UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
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TRAVELS
THROUGH THE
INTERIOR PARTS
OF
NORTH AMERICA,
IN THE
Years 1766, 1767, and 1768.
Bv L CARVE R, Escu '
CAPtAIN OF A COMPANY OF PROVINCIAL
TROOPS DURING THE LATE
WAR WITH FRANCE.
ILLUSTRATEDWITH COPPER PLATES^
COLOURED. ^
THE THIRD EDITION.
To which is added, Some Account of thjb
AUTHOR, AND A COPIOUS INDEX.
LONDON:
Printed for C. Dilly, InthePoukry; H. Pavne, in
Pall-mall ; and J. Phillips, in George-Yard,
Lombard- Street.
MDCCLXXXI.
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ADVERTISEMENT.
F"^EW works have had a more rapid
fale than the following ^ two large
editions having been difpofed of in two
years. This induced the proprietors to
print a third : but, as foon as this impref-
iion was iinifhed, I purchafed both the
printed copies and the copy-right.
I have lince added to the work, fome
Account of the Author's life, and an
Index to the Travels, which are publiifhed
feparately, for the convenience of the
purchafers of the firft and fecond editi-
ons; on whom, I was unwilling to raife
an extraordinary tax for the third edition.
John Coakley Lettsom.
London, March 30, 1781.
T O
JOSEPH BANKS, Efq;
PRESIDENT
O F T H E
ROYAL SOCIETY.
SIR,
HEN the Public are in-
formed that I have long had
the Honour of your Acquaintance
that my Defign in publifhing
the following Work has received
your Sandion^ that the Compo-
fition of it has flood the Teft of
your Judgment and that it is by
your Permiffion a Name fo defer v-
edly eminent in the Literary World,
A 2 is
DEDICATION.
is prefixed to it, I need not be ap-
prehenfive of its Succefs ; as your
Patronage will unqueftionably give
them Affurance of its Merit.
For this public Teftimony of your
Favour, in which I pride myfelf,
accept. Sir, my moft grateful Ac-
knowledgments ; and believe me to
be, with great Refped:,
Your obedient
humble Servant,
J. CARVER,
A N
ADDRESS
T O T H E
PUBLIC.
THE SECOND EDITION.
^JT'HR favourable reception this IVork
has met with, claims the Author's mojh
grateful acknowledgments. A large edition
having run off In a few months, and the f ale
appearing to be fill unabated, a new Im^
prejjion Is become necejfary. On this occa-
fan was he to conceal his feelings, and
pafs over. In filence, a di/llndllon fo bene-
ficial and flattering, he would juftly Incur
the Imputation of Ingratitude, 'That he
might not do this, he takes the opportunity,
which now prefents Itfelf, of conveying to
the Public (though In terms Inadequate to
the warm emotions of his heart) the fenfe
he
ADDRESS. ,
he entertains of their favour ; and thus tranf-
miis to them his thanks.
In this new edition, care has been taken
to re^fify thofe errors which have unavoid-
ably proceeded from the hurry of the prefs^
and likewife any incorredinefs in the lan-
guage that has found its way into it,
''The credibility f fomv of the incidents
related in the following pages, and fome
of the Jlories introduced .therein, having
been quejiioned, particularly the prognofti-
cation of the Indian priejl on the banks of
Lake Superior, and the fory of the Indian
and his rattle fnake, the author thinks if
necejfary to avail himfelf of the fame oppor-
tunity, to endeavour to eradicate any im-
prejfons that might have been made on the
minds of his readers, by the apparent im-
probability of thefe relations.
As to the former, he has related it juji
as it happened. Being an eye-witnefs to
the whole tranfadlion (and, hefatiers kim-
felf at the time, free from every trace of
fceptical ohfinacy or enihuf a/tic credulity)
he was confequently able to defer ibe every
circun fiance
ADDRESS.
clrcumjlance minutely and Impartially. 'This:
he has done ; but without endeavouring to
account for the means by which it was ac^
complijioed. Whether the prediction was
the rejult of prior obfervations^ from which
certain confequences were expelled to follow
by the fagacious prieji, and the completion
of it merely accidental ; or whether he was
really endowed with fupernatural pozvers,
the narrator left to the judgment of his
readers ; whofe conclu/ions, he fuppofes, va-
ried according as the mental faculties of
each were difpofed to admit or rejedt fa^s
that cannot be accounted for by natural
caufes.
I'heflory of the rattle fnake was related
to him by a French gentleman of undoubted
veracity ; and were the readers of this
work as thoroughly acquainted with the fa-
gacity and infiinSlive proceedings of that
animal^ as he is, they weuld be as well af-
fured of the truth of it. It is well known,
that thofe fnakes which have furvived
through the fummer the accidents reptiles
are liable to, periodically retire to the
woods, at the approach of winter ; where
^ach (as curious obfervers have remarked),
takes
ADDRESS,
tales pojfejjion of the cavity it had occupied
the preceding year. As foon as thejeajon
is propitious^ enlivened by the invigorating
rays of the fun^ they leave thefe retreats^
and make their way to the fame f pot ^ though
ever fo difiant^ on which they before had
found fubffience^ and the means of propagate
ing their f pedes. Does it then require any ex^
traordinary exertions of the mind to believe ^
that one of thefe regular creatures, after
having been kindly treated by its mcfier^
fbould return to the box, in which it had
vfually been fuppUed with food, and had
inet with a comjortable abode, and that nearly
about the time the Indian, from former ex^
periments, was able to guefs at f It cer^
tainly does not ; nor will the liberal and in-
genuous doubt the truth of a fory fo well
authenticated, becaufe the circumfances ap-
pear extraordinary in a country where tha
fubjedi of it is fcarcely known,
'Thefe explanations the author hopes wilt
Juffice to convince his readers, that he has
not, as travellers are fometimes fuppofed to
do, ami fed them with improbable tales, or
w'lfed to acquire importance by making hs
adventures favour of the marvellous,
3 CON-
SOME
ACCOUNT
O F
CAPTAIN J. CARVER.
TH E RE Is a difpofition peculiar to
every mind, that early predomi-
nates, and continues its influence through
every period of life. Many circumllan-
ces may, indeed, obfcure or divert its
progrefs; but on all interelling occalions
this conftitutional bias v^^ill recur, and
exhibit the natural charad:er and genius
of the individual.
Jonathan Carver, the author of the
following work, was grandfon of William
Jofeph Carver, of Wigan, in Lancafhire,
who was a captain in the army under
king William, and ferved in Ireland
with fuch diftinguiihed reputation, that
that prince was pleafed to reward him
with the government of Connecticut in
New-England, which appears to have
A been
[ 2 3
been the firft appointment to that fla-
tion by the crown.
Our author was born, anno 1732, at
Stillwater, in the province of Connec-
ticut, iince rendered famous by the fur-
render of the army under General Bur-
goyne ; his father, who relided at this
place, and acfled as a juftice of the
peace, died, when he was only fifteen
years of age. He had received the ru-
diments of as liberal an education as
could be procured in that neighbour-
hood, and, being defigned for the prac-
tice of medicine, he was foon after his
father's death placed with a gentleman
of that profeflion in Elizabeth Town,
in the fame province. A profeffion that
requires not only a clofe and regular at-
tention, but likewife a fteady perfeve-
rance, was not fuited to that fpirit of
bold enterprize and adventure, which
feemed to be the ruling paffion of our
author, who, at the age of eighteen,
purchafed an enfigncy in the Connec-
ticut regiment, in which, as I have been
informed, he acquired fo much reputa-
. tion, as to obtain the command of a com-
pany. Of this event, however, I have not
found
t 3 ] ■
found the lead mention amonghis papers,
nor, indeed, of any other important cir-
cumftance of his life till the year 17^7?
when he was in the army under General
Webb, and fortunately efcaped the dread-
ful maflacre at Fort V/illiam Henry,
where nearly 1 500 brave troops were de-
Aroyed in cold blood by the Indians in
the French army of General Montcalm.
In the enfuing year, 1758, a battalion
of light infantry, commanded by Colo-
nel Oliver Partridge, was raifed in the
province of MaiTachufets Bay, by order
of Governor Pownall, for the purpofe of
invading Canada, in which our author
ferved as fecond lieutenant of Captain
Hawks's company ; and in 1760 he was
advanced to be captain of a company in
Colonel Whetcomb's regiment of foot,
during the adminiftration of Governor
Hutchinfon. In Governor Barnard's
time, in 1762, Captain Carver com-
manded a company of foot in Colonel
Saltonftall's regiment.
I have not been able to colledl any
anecdotes of our author, during his mili-
tary fervices ; but from the written re-
commendations in my hands, of perfons
A 2 high
[ 4 ]
high in office, under whom he adled, he
appears to have acquitted himfelf with
great reputation, and much to the fatis-
fadion of his fuperior officers. Thefe
recommendations are not confined to
military condu(5l merely -, they uni-
formly introduce him as a perfon of
piety, and of a good moral character.
Throughout the narrative of his travels,
indeed, an animated regard to the
duties of religion is evidently prevalent,
which muft procure a credibility to the
fads he mentions, that might otherwife
be fufpended. If authors, who have
vifited countries unknown to their con-
temporaries, had always been aduated
hy a facred regard to truth and moral
reditude, hiftory in general would have
been developed with juft and convinc-
ing relations, and not left involved in
doubt and obfcurity.
This firm integrity and undaunted
courage appeared evident upon every in-
terefting occafion : they were, indeed,
cfi!entially requifite to condud him
through the moft dangerous enterprizes
with a perfeverance that is more gene-
rally the offspring of true fortitude, than
pf
[ 5 ]
of daring boldnefs or impetuofity of ima-
gination.
With fo many favourable requifites
for fuccefs and advancement, defcended
from parents refpedable for their mili-
tary and civil dignity, as well as for
their fortune ; endued with courage, fa-
gacity, and a fpirit of enterprize, rarely
united in one individual, it might be an
objecft of enquiry, why Captain Carver,
whofe condud: was fo excellent, in a
moral a^ well as in a military view,
fhould never have been promoted above
the command of a company.
It is a truth confirmed by hiilory, that
true fortitude is the genuine offspring of
an humble mind. Whatever we acquire
by induftry and labour, we are apt highly
to eftimate; it is a kind of new creation
of our own ; and a perfualion of this, in-
fpires ambition, and even a forward ar-
dour for diftindion ; and what a par-
tial imagination magnifies to ourfelves,
we naturally magnify to others, and
gradually acquire a confequence, and
reap rewards adequate, if not fuperior,
to defert: but the naturally brave is na-
turally modeft j what is innate, does not
prefent
[ 6 ]
prefent itfelf to the imagination as its
own J it neither begets vanity, nor excites
ambition; and thus great endowments,
which might have been cheriftied, and
turned to the moft important advantages,
are frequently negleded, and loft to fo-
ciety. Whatever natural or acquired
excellencies were polTefTed by Captain
Carver, not only feemed unnoticed by
himfelf, but were accompanied by a
diffidence, which in fome inftances was
extraordinary indeed; and the reader
muft be convinced of this, when he is
informed, that Captain Carver died,
through want, with three commiffions
in his pocket.
The year after his commiffion under
Colonel Saltonftall was figned, the peace
of Verfailles took place, namely, anno
1763, when our author, having difcharg-
ed his military obligations to his country,
retired from the army. But his natural
turn for cnterprize, and the purfuit of
novelty, did not fuffer him to enjoy a
life of ufelefs cafe ; he began to con-
fider, to ufe his own fentiments (having
rendered his country fome fervices dur-
ing the war) how hjC might continue ftill
fervice-
[ 7 1
ferviceable, and contribute, as much as
lay in his power, to make that vaft ac-
■quifition of territory, gained by Great
Britain in North America, advantageous
to it J and here he commences his own
biographer, continuing his relation in
the following hiilory of his travels, till
his vifit to England in the year 1769.
Though I have not been able to pro-
cure many additional anecdotes of this
ingenious traveller, yet a refpeft to his
memory, and a fenfe of his fervices to
the nation at large, excited a delire to
bring together a few outlines of his cha-
ra(fter, and probably at fome future pe-
riod, when the prefent unhappy conteft
between this kingdom and the Ameri-
can colonies fhall have fubiided, parti-
culars of more importance than I have
been able to meet with, may be procured
from that part of the world, which he
has taken fo much ufeful labour to de-
fcribe.
This barrennefs of materials is, how-
ever, in fome degree compenfated by the
important relations he has communicated
in the fucceeding pages, which not only
regard himfelf, but likewife a part of the
great
[ 8 ]
great American continent, hitherto al-
moll unknown to the inhabitants of
Europe, and even to thofe of the culti-
vated parts of the fame continent.
In his defcriptions of thefe vail re-
gions, he feems to have embraced every
opportunity of pointing out the advan-
tages which might be derived in a com-
mercial view, from a juft knowledge of
them, and of the policy of the various
tribes who polTefs them. In his pidlu-
refque view of the fcenery round Lake
Pepin, his imagination, animated as it
was by the magnitude, the novelty, and
grandeur of the objecHis, is not fo far
tranfported, as to interrupt the mofl:
fcrupulous attention to the fituation, as
improveable for commercial and nation-
al advantages.
In the midfl of a new and rich crea-
tion, he fuggefted the probability of
rendering this lake, and its variegated
environs, the center of immenfe traihck,
with a people whofe names and tribes
were fcarcely known to the commercial
parts of either fide of the Britifh em-
pire, but whofe difpolitions and purfuits
feemed
[ 9 ]
feemed calculated to promote and fecure
this interefting and national benefit.
The lake, which is about twenty
miles in length, and fix in breadth, and
through which the MIfiifiippi direcffcs its
courfe, is about two thouland miles from
the entrance into the gulf of Mexico,
and as many weflerly from Quebec,
Boflon, and New- York ; it is fituated
between 42 and 43 degrees of north
latitude. The plains in its vicinity are
extenfive, and fit for immediate cultiva-
tion : elk, deer, and other quadrupeds,
including the- beaver, otter, mink,
martin, fable, mufk-rat, and the largefl
buffaloes in America, are the inhabi-
tants of this region, whilft various fpe-
cies of wild fowl frequent the lake,
whofe waters are ilored with fifh in
great abundance; vegetation is luxu-
riant in the meadows, v/here the maple
is indigenous, of whofe fap the Indians
make great quantities of fugar, capable of
fermentation, and of producing fpirit ;
the grapes hang in fuch clufters, that al-
moft any quantity of brandy might,
under a like procefs, be diflilled from
them I rice, a grain adapted . to many
B ufeful
[ 10 ]
ufeful purpofes of life, is alfo very plen-
tiful.
The number of hunting Indians, who
frequent Lake Pepin, is not lefs than
2000, each of whom brings about one
hundred pounds weight of beaver to
barter, which, at the loweffc price, in
the London market, is five fhillings a
pound ; hence a trade at this place will
command annually 200000 crowns worth
of furs, befides fkins. But there is rea-
fon to conclude, that when a general
mart is eftablifhed here, furnifhed with
a fufficient aflbrtment of goods, and a
fupply of liquors, that there would be
a more general refort of traders.
The French, indeed, fupported a trade
at this lake, before the Englifh had made
a conqueft of the country j but they ne-
ver attempted the lucrative branch of
diflilling fpirituous liquors upon the
fpot, though they have been conveyed
hither two thoufand miles of difficult
carriage, and produced confiderable pro-
fit.
It may be doubted in a moral, if not
in a political view, whether fuch a
traffic of rendering the means of inebria-
tion
tion more eafily attainable, fhould meet
with the encouragement of the legifla-
ture. Captain Carver, however, com-
puted that 2000 gallons of brandy could
be made on the fpot, as cheap as in the
Weft-Indies ; and that by avoiding the
expence of 3000 miles carriage alfo, the
traders would make a faving of 2000 per
cent, belides duties and various contin-
gencies : and as, by a moderate computa-
tion, every gallon of fpirits will pro-
duce there what will amount to ten
pounds in the London market, it muft
eventually prove a moft lucrative branch
of trade, if purfued with proper cau-
tion and policy.
The great plenty of the edible necef-
faries of life, will afford a cheap, eafy,
and falutary fupplyj and the goodnefs
of the foil, with very little labour, will
render provifions ftill more eafily attaina-
ble, and altogether form a place of
traffic hitherto unequalled.
From Captain Carver's long refidence
in the neighbourhood of Lake Pepin,
among the Naudowiflie and Chipeway
Indians, he acquired a knowledge of
their languages, and an intimacy with
B 2 many
[ 12 ]
many of their chiefs, which, with his
fpirited and judicious conduct in ading
as a mediator between thefe two nations,
conciliated their attachment and friend-
fhip i and as an acknowledgment of their
grateful fenfe of his happy interference,
the Naudowiffies gave him a formal
grant of a trad of land, lying on the
north fide of Lake Pepin. The ori-
ginal, duly fubfcribed by two chiefs, is
in my pofTeflion j and as an Indian deed
of conveyance may prove a curiolity to
many readers, I (hall here infert a copy
of it.
** To Jonathan Carver, a chief under
" the moft mighty and potent George
*' the Third, King of the Englifli and
*' other nations, the fame of whofe
*' courageous warriors have reached our
'* ears, and has been more fully told us
" by our good brother Jonathan afore-:
'* faid, whom we rejoice to fee come
" among us, and bring us good news
** from his country. We, chiefs of the
*♦ Naudowiffies, who have hereto fet our
** feals, do by thefe prefents for ourfelves
** and heirs for ever, in return for the
** many prefents, and other good fervices
*' done
[ 13 3
" done by the faid Jonathan to ourfelvcs
'* and allies, give, grant, and convey to
" him the faid Jonathan, and to his heirs
'* and affigns for ever, the whole of a
*' certain trad: or territory of land,
" bounded as follows : (viz.) from the
** fall of St. Anthony, running on the
** eaft banks of the Mifliffippi, nearly
'* fouth-eaft, as far as the fouth end of
*' Lake Pepin, where the Chipeway
" river joins the Miffiffippi, and from
'^ thence eaftward five days travel,
•* accounting twenty Englifli miles per
" day, and from thence north fix days
** travel, at twenty Englifh miles per
** day, and from thence again to the fall
" of St. Anthony, on a diredt fi:raight
** line. We do for ourfelves, heirs, and
** afiigns, for ever, give unto the faid Jo-
" nathan, his heirs and afiigns, for ever,
** all the faid lands, with all the trees,
*' rocks, and rivers therein, referving for
*' ourfelves and heirs the fole liberty of
*' hunting and fifhing on land not plant-
** ed or improved by the fiiid Jonathan,
^* his heirs and afligns, to which we have
^* affixed our refpedive feals, at the great
** cave.
[ 14 ]
" cave. May the firil:, one thoufand feveli
*' hundred and fixty-feven."
Hav/nopawjatin
Otohtongoom-
liilieaw
his mark
his mark
Soon after the above period, our author
concluded to return to Bofton, where he
arrived in 1768, having been abfent two
years and five months, during which time
he had travelled about feven thoufand
miles. After digefling his journal and
charts, he failed for England, and arrived
there in the year 1769. The reafons
which induced him to undertake this
voyage, are amply related by himfelf in
his travels (page 177.) to which I
refer.
Few objects have excited a more gene-
ral enquiry than the difcovery of a north-
weft
[ '5 ]
weft paffage, in order to open a com-
munication with the great pacific ocean
and the Eaft Indies, by a fhorter naviga-
tion than by doubling thofe immenfe
promontories, the Cape of Good Hope
or Cape Horn. Every allurement of
gain, and national emolument, has been
propofed to encourage the attempt, but,
hitherto, every attempt hath been fruit-
lefs, though the moft experienced fea-
men have engaged in the undertaking.
Our traveller fuggefted an attempt by
land, acrofs the north weH parts of
North America, and adtually drew a
chart of his propofed rout for effecting
his proje(ft, which, however vifionary
it may now be deemed, affords at leafl
a proof of the enterprizing fpirit of Cap-
tain Carver, and which he would, pro-
bably, have attempted, had any encou-
ragement been afforded him : (introd.
pap. 6. and append, pag. 539, et feq.)
When he vifited England, he appeared
with the mofl favourable credentials of
his character in every refpedt : many of
thefe are now in my pofTeflion ; but that
which feemed to promife the mofl bene-
ficial advantages, was conferred upon him
by General Gage, and, in confequence of
a petition
[ i6 ]
a petition prefented to the king, and re-
ferred to the Lords Commiffioners of
Trade and Plantations, our traveller had
formed the fond hope of feeing his la-
bours fo far rewarded, as to be reimburfed
thofe fums he had expended in the fer-
vice of government, agreeable to the re-
lation conveyed in the introdud;ion to
his travels.
In a large, free, and widely extended
government, where every motion depends
upon a variety of fprings, the leffer and
fubordinate movements muft be ad:ed
upon by the greater, and confequently
the more inferior operations of ftate will
be fo diHant, as not to be perceived in
the grand machine : whether Captain Car-
ver's difappointments refulted from thefe
principles, or that government did not
eftimate his fervices in equal proportion
to his own idea of them, is not fo eafily
afcertained, as that he thought himfelf
not only negledled, but treated with in-
juftice.
The condition of a fuppliant is what
his mind muft have fubmitted to with re-
lud:ance. Men of fuperior endowments
are liable to be jealous of the leaft inat-
tention.
[ '7 ]
tentlbn, which they are apt to confid^r
as an infult on their diftrefs. A feeling
mind, like his, confcious of its dignity
and fuperior merit, might not be able
to ftoop to that importunity and adula-
tion, which are fometimes requifite to
infure the fmiles and favours of thofe in
power ; otherwife it might naturally be
fuggelled, that his extendve acquaintance
with A.merica, and with the cuftoms and
languages of the Indians, in the interior
parts of that vaft continent, then the
theatre of an unnatural and bloody con-
teft, would have pointed him out as a
moft ufeful inftrument in the hands of
government.
With the advantages, however, of an
intimate knowledge of Indian affairs, he
united a determined loyalty to the king^
and a fixed attachment to his American
countrymen ; and thus the principle of
adiing agreeably to the feelings of con-
fcience, would equally operate upon him
refpedting the contending parties. He
had repeatedly rifked his life in the
fervice of his princCj againft whofe
government he was equally averfe from
drawing his fword, as againft his trans-
C atlantic
-♦[ i8 ]
atlantic brethren : he might not, there-
fore, be deemed an important acquifition
to the ruling powers here, and the
prayer of his petition was fcarcely heard
in the clamours of popular commotion.
Perfons of ingenuity, however oppref-
fed by their own fuiferings, in a bufy
commercial country, may ftrike out
fome means of fubliftence^ but, in ado-
meflic ftate, where many depend upon
the induflry of an individual, the diffi-
culty of procuring fupport is not only
rendered more affedling to the feeling
mind, but likewife greatly augmented.
Captain Carver, after having exhaufted
his fortune, had now a family to fupport,
without knowing how to turn his abili-
ties to any means of fuccouring them.
Diftrefs of mind begets debility of body,
which is flill aggravated by penury, and
a want of the common neceflaries of life.
His conftitution, naturally firm, gradu-
ally grew weaker and weaker ; but his
regard to his family animated his fpirit
to exertions beyond the ftrength of his
body, which enabled him to preferve ex-
iftence through the winter of 1779, by
ad:ing as a clerk in a lottery-office i but
the
[ '9 ]
the vital powers, fuccoured as they were
by this cafual fupport, diminifhed by
certain, though imperceptible, degrees,
till at length a putrid fever fupervening
a long continued dyfentery brought on
by w^ant, put an end to the life of a man,
who, , after rendering, at the expence of
fortune and health, and the riik of life,
many important fervices to his country,
perifhed through want in the iirft city of
the world.
In fize. Captain Carver was rather
above the middle ftature, and of a firm
mufcular texture; his features expreffed a
firmnefs of mind and boldnefs of refolu-
tionj and he retained a florid complexion
to his lateft moments.
In converfation he was fecial and affa-
ble, where he was familiar -, but his ex-
treme diffidence and modefty kept him in
general referved in company. 'In his
familiar epiftles, he commanded an eafy
and agreeable manner of writing; and
fome pieces of his poetry, which have
been communicated to me, afford proofs
of his lively imagination and of the
harmony of his verfification*
C 2 His
[ 20 ]
His only authentic publications I have
feen are the prefent work, and a Treatife
on the Culture of the Tobacco Plant,
anno 1779. The former will fpeak for
itfelf: the opinion of the public has,
indeed, been fully teftified by the rapid
fale of two large editions of this work
in the fpace of the lafl: two years.
The Treatife on Tobacco is a fmall
odavo of fifty-four pages, containing
two engravings of the plant, and an ac-^
count of its cultivation on the American
continent. As this vegetable conftitutes
one of the moil confiderable branches of
commerce betwixt the old and new
hemifpheres of the world, and thrives
luxurioufly in Europe as well as in Ame-
rica, it is now pretty generally known :
from the elegance of the plant and beauty
of its flowers, it is cultivated in gardens
I for ornament ; in which charader it
will appear from a view of the annexed
engraving of it.
It was firfl: fent into Spain, in 1560:
from Tabaco, a province of Yucatan,
hy Hermandez de Toledo, and from the
place of its growth it received the narn^
which it ftill bears.
It
/ Z/*"/ //,,,, /ir^. ^,^».y/^ftfA->rltf
(^^.','J22
TiieToBAC CO Pl.\:nt .^^^;*:>a/. » ^. /.-^^
[ 21 ]
It was called, by the French, Nico-
tiana, after John Nicot, who went foon
after it was difcovered, as ambaflador to
that court, from Francis the Second of
Portugal, and carried fome of it with
him.
Before the prefent conteft between
Great-Britain and the Colonies, about
96,000 hogfheads were annually import-
ed from Maryland and Virginia, which,
with the duties on the home confump-
tion, and the returns on foreign export,
produced an immenfe revenue to this
country.
The general ufes of Tobacco are well
known 5 befides which, it is found nearly
equal to the bell oak-bark for tanning
leather, efpecially with thinner forts of
hides 5 and would probably be ufed for
this purpofe, were it as cheap as the bark
of the oak.
Few fubjeds have been more copi-
pully treated on than Tobacco : Monar-
des, Stephanus, Everhartus, Thorius,
Neander, Pauli, have each wrote uponf
it largely. Neander publifhed a volume
on this fubjedl, entitled, Tobacologia,
and ornamented it with plates, to ex-
hibit
[ 22 ]
hibit its cultivation and manner of pre-
paration ; and, lately. Captain Carver
publifhed the above-mentioned Treatife
on the Culture of this Plant, v^^ith
a view to inftruft landholders in the
method of cultivating it with profit, and
to this pamphlet I fhall refer the reader
for further particulars.
Our author died on the 3 1 ft of January
1780, at the age of forty-eight years,
and lies interred in Holywell-Mount
burying-ground.
CONTENTS.
I TNrRODUCriON, 1
' 'it he Author Jets out from Bo/ion on his
travels, — — 1 7
"Dejcription of "Fort Michtlli?nackinac, i 8
Fort Le Bay, — 2 i
-^- the Green Bay, — 26
Lake Michigan, — *. 28
Arrives at the town of the Winneba-
^ goes, — — 32
Excurjion of the Winnebagoes towards the
I Spanijh Settlements, — 35
Defcription of the Winnebago Lake, 3 7
Injlance of Refolution of an Indian Wo-
man, — — 40
"Defcription of the Fox River, — 41
Remarkable Story of a Rattle Snake, 4 3
the great town of the Saukies, — 46
Upper town of the Ottagaumies, 48
Defcription of the Ouifconjtn River, ib.
Lower town of the Ottagaumies, or La
Prairie Le Chi en, — — ^o
An Attack by fame Indian Plunderers, 5 i
b Defcription
CONTENTS.
t)eJcnption of the Mljjijfippi front the
Mouth of the Oulfconfn to Lake Pe^
pin, — ^ — 54
■ — Lake Pepin, — ^§
Remarkable Ruins of an ancient Fortifi-
cation, — — 5 7
The River Bands of the NaudoweJJie In^
dians, — — 59
Adventure with a Party of thefe, and fome
of the Chip ew ays, — — ' 6 a
Defcription of a remarkable Cave^ 63
Uncommon Behaviour of the Prince of the
JVinnebagoes at the Falls of St. An^
thony, — - — 66
Dcfcription of the Falls, — 69
Extent of the Author s 'Travels, — 7 i
Defcription of the River St. Pierre, 74
Sources of the Four great Rivers of North
America, ■ — — 76
Reflexions on their Affinity, — ■ 77
The Naudoweffies of the Plains, ivith
whom the Author wintered in the Tear
1766, — — -So
The Author returns to the Mouth of the
River St, Pierre, —* 84
Account of a v'lolent Thunder ftorm, 85
Speech made by the Author in a Council
held
CONTENTS.
held hy the Nrntdowejies at the great
Cave, — — 86
Adxrenture with a Party of Indians near
Lake Pepin, — — ■ o 5
Defcription of the Country adjacent to the
River St. Pierre, — 100
Account of different Clays found near the
Marble River, — — 10 1
Defcription of the Chipeway River, 102
Extraordinary Kffedls of a Hurricane, 103
^he Author arrives at the Grand Portage
on the North-wejl Borders of Lake Su^
ferior, — — 107
Account of the Lakes lying farther to the
North'Wefl : Lake Bourbon, Lake IV in-
nepeek. Lake Du Bois, Lake La Pluye,
Red Lake, &c, — — ib.
Account of a Nation of Indians fuppofed to
have been tributary to the Mexican
Kings, — — 1 1 8
, thefiining Mountains, ,121
A fngular Predidlion of the Chief Priejl
of the Killijiinoes verified, — 123
'Defcription of Laks Superior, — 133
Story of the two Clnpeways landing on the
If and of Maiiropas, — 135
Account of great ^antities of Copper
Ore, — — 139
b 2 . Defcription
CONTENTS.
Defcript'wn of the Falls of St. Marie ^ i^t
Lake Huron, — 144.
_ .^ — . — SaganaumnndT'hiinder Bays,
145
Kxtraordmary PhanomeiiGn In the Straights
of MichilUmackinac y — 146
Defcription of hake St. Claire, — 150
the River, '^own, and Fort
of Detroit, — — 153
Renmrkable Rain at Detroit, - — 153
Attack of Fort Detroit by Pontiac, 154
Defcription of Lake Frie, - — 166
the River and Falls of Nia-
gara, — — 16^
Lake Ontario, — 170
-the Oniada Lake, Lake
Champlain, and Lake George, 172
Account of a Tradi of Land granted to Sir
Ferdinando Gorges, and Captain Jolm
Mafon, — — 173
^he Author s Motives for undertaking his
Travels, — — 177
P H A P. L
I'he Origin of the Indians, 181
Sentiments of various Writers on this Pointy
182
Sentiments
CONTENTS.
Sentiments of Monjleur Charlevoix^ 1 9 2
James A^air, Efq; 202
— the Author of this IVork^ 208
Corroboration of the latter by Do^or Ro-
bertfon — — 2 1 6
CHAP. 11,
Qf the Perfons, Drefs, ^c, of the Indians,
219
An Account of thofe who have written on
this Subjedi, — — 220
JDefcription of the Perfons of the Indians^
223
their Drefs, — 225
.ffje Drefs of the OttagaumieSy
with a Plate, — — 229
'the Drefs of the Naudowef-
fes, with Ditto, 230
"J^he Manner in which they build their
I'ents and Huts, — 231
^heir domeftic Utenfils, -r- 233
CHAP. III.
Of the Manners^ Salifications, ^c, of
the Indians, — — 235
Peculiar Cufloms of the Women, 236
b 3 "the
CONTENTS.
^he clrcumffedi and ftoical Difpojttion of
the Men, — — 237
^heir amazing Sagacity^ - — 241
Remarkable Story of one of the NaudoweJJle
IVomen, — — 245
^he Liberality of the Indians^ and their
Opinion rejpe5li?ig Money ^ -»- 247
CHAP, IV.
^heir Method of reckoning T'ime, ^c, 250,
^he Names by which they diflingui/Jj the.
Months, — — -251
^heir Idea of the Ufe of Figures, 253
CHAP. V.
Of their Government, ^c, — i^55
J'heir Div'fon into bribes, — — ib,
'The Chiefs of their Bands, '^Sl
'The Members that compofe their Councils,
259
C H A P, VI,
Of their Feafs, * — ' 262
"Their ufual Food, — — 263
Their Manner of drejjing and eating their
Vioiuals, ~ — 264.
CHAP.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. VII,
Of their Dances, — 266
^he Manner in which they dance, 2 6 y
*The Pipe or Calumate Dance, — ■ 268
*The War Dance, — — . 269
'I'he Pawwaw Dance, — 270
jln unco?nmon Admijfion into a Society,
among the NaudoweJ/ies, — 272
'J'he Dance of the Indians on the Banks
of the MiJJiJJippi, referred to in the
Journal, — — 279
.^he Dance of the Sacrifice, -— 282
CHAP. VIII.
Of their Hunting, — — 283
Their Preparation before they fet out, 285
Their Manner of hunting the Bear, 286
Buffalo, Deer^
^c, — — 287
r^ ^ • — — Beaver, 289
b 4 CHAP.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. IX.
Of their Manner of making War^ &c, 293
^be Indian J4^eapons, with a Plate ^ 296
Their Motives of making War^ ' 297
Preparations before they take the Fields
'T'he Manner in which they foUcit other
Nations to he come their Auxiliaries, 305
Their Manner of declaring War, - 3^7
Their Method of engaging their Knemies,
310
An Inftance of the Rfficacy of it in the De-
feat of General Braddock, 311
A Detail of the Afaffacre ai Fort William-
Henry in the Tear 1757, — 313
Acutenefs and Alacrity of the Indians in
purfiimg their Knemies, — 3^^
Their Manner of Scalping, — 328
The Manner in ivhich they retreat and
carry off their PriJ oners, — - 330
A remarkable hiflance of Heroifm in a Fe-
male Pr if oner, — 332
Treatment of their Prif oners, ^^^
The Origin of their felling Slaves, 346
CHAP,
CONTENTS,
CHAP. X.
Of their Manner of making Peace, ^c. 351
Account of an Kngagement between the
Iroquois and the Ottagaumies and Sau-^
lies, — - — — 352
Manner in which they condudi a 'Treaty of
Peace, — — • — 358
Defcription of the Pipe of Peace, 359
p ^ the Belts of JVampum, 36^
CHAP. XL
Of their Games, — • — 363
The Game of the Ball, — • — 364
• the Bowl or Platter, ^6$
CHAP. XIL
Of their Marriage Ceremonies, — ^6y.
The Manner in which the Tribes near Ca-
nada celebrate their Marriages, 369
The Form of Marriage among the Nau-
dowcjjies, — — — '^'j'^
Their Manner of carrying on an Intrigue y
315
Of th^ Indian Names ^ -— — 378
CHAP.
CONTENTS,
CHAP. XIII.
Of their Religion y — — 380
^heir Ideas of a Supreme Beings 381
■ a future State^ — 383
Of their Priefts, — - • — 384
^he Sentiments of Others on the religioui
Principles of the Indians oppofed, 386
CHAP. XIV.
Of their Difeafcs, &c. — 389
*l^he Complaints to which they are chiefly
fuhje^, — — ib.
J'he Manner in which they conflru^ their
Sweating Stoves ^ — - 390
fhc Methods in which they treat their Dif
eafs, — — 391
j^n extraordinary Inftance of the Judgment
of an Indian Woman in a defperate.
Cafe, _ _ 395.
C H A P. XV.
ithe Manner in which they treat their
Dead, — — ^ 398
A Spe-.
CONTENTS.
^ Specimen of their Funeral Harangues^
399.
^heir Method of burying the Dead, 401
i/i fngular Inflance of parental j^edtlon in
^ Naudowejfe Woman, — - 403
CHAP. XVI.
\A conclfe CharaSier of the Indians, 408
uhelr perfonal and mental Salifications, 409.
^helr public Character as Members of 4
Community, — • — 4 H
CHAP. XVII.
Of their Language, Hleroglyphlcks, Ss'c. 4 1 4
Qf the Chlpeway Tongue, — 416
Defcrlptlve Specimen of their Hlerogly^
phlcks, — — 417
Vocabulary of the Chlpeway Language, 420
^i — — —the NaudoweJJie Language, 433
CHAP. XVIII.
Of the Beajls, Birds ^ Fl/hes, Reptiles, and
Infedfs, which are fiund In the Interior
Farts of 'North America, — 441
BEjsrs,
CONTENTS,
B E A s r s.
^he 'Tyger- T'he Bear, — 44^
^The Wolf. "The Fox, — — 444
Dogs. T'he Cat of the Mountain. The
Buffalo , — — — 445
'The Deer, — — — 446
l^he Elk, — • — = — 447
1'he Moofe, — — 448
T^he Carrabou, — — 449
T'he Carcajou. The Skunk, — 450
The Porcupine, — — ■ 453
The Woodchuck. The Racoon, 454
The Martin. The Mufquafi, — 455
Squirrels, — — - — - 456
T'he Beaver, - — _ ' 457
The Otter — - - — — 464
The Mink, -— — , 465
BIRDS.
The Eagle. The Night Hawk, 46,6
The Fiflo Hawk, — — 467
T'he IVhipperwill, — - — ■ 468
The Owl. T'he Crane. Ducks, 469
The Teal. The Loon, — 47,0
T'he Partridge. The Woodpecker. The
Wood Pigeon, — — - 471
The Blue Jay. The IVakon Bird, 472
' "The
CONtENTS.
"The Blackbird, — — 473
I'he Redbird, — — - — 474
ne IVhetfaw. "The King Bird, 'The
Humming Bitd, — — 475
FISHES,
The Sturgeon, — — 477
TheCatFiJh, The Carp, The Chub, 478
SERPENTS,
The Rattle Snake, — — 479
The Eong Black Snake, — 48 r
The Striped or Garter Snake. The Water
Snake. The Hijfing Snake. The Green
Snake. The Thorn-tail Snake, 486
The Speckled Snake. The Ring Snake. The
Two-headed Snake, — ■ 487
The Tor to if e or Land Turtle, — 4 S 8
LIZARDS.
The Swift Lizard. The Slow Lizard,
The Tree Toad, — 488, 489
INSECTS
The Silk JVorm, — — — 490
The Tobacco Worm. The Bee. The
Lightning Bug or Fire Fly, 49 i
The
CONTENTS.
^he Water Bug, 1'he Horned Bug. 'the
Locti/l, — — -;— 4P2
CHAP. XIX.
Of the 1'reeSf Shrubs^ Roots, Herbs,
Flowers, — — 4^4
T' R E E S,
the Oak^ — — - — 4p^
the Pine tree, the Maple, — 496
the Ajh, — ~ — 497
the Hemlock tree, • — 498
the Bafs or White Wood, the Wichpick
or Suckwick. the Button Wood, 499
N U t t R E E S.
the Butter or Oil Nut, — 500
the Beech Nut. the Pecan Nut, 5 o i
the Hickory^ -^ . — ^02
F R U I t t R E E S.
the Fine, the Mulberry tree, the Crab
Jpple tree the Plum tree, 503
the Cherry tree, ■ — — 504
the Sweet Gum tree — — 505
SHRUBS-
CONTENTS*
SHE UBS.
^heJVtllow. Shin Wood ^ — 506
TChe Sajafras, 'The Prickly Jjh, 507
ne Moofe Wood, "The Spoon IVoodi The
Elder, — ■ — 508
The Shrub Oak. The Witch Haz'e, 509
The Myrtle Wax Tree, JVinier Green,
The Fever Bujh, The Cranberry BmJIj, 5 i r
The Choak Berry, — 5 i 2
ROOTS and PLANTS,
Spikenard. Sarfaparilla, — 5x3
Ginfang. Gold Thread, — 5 i 4
Solomon s Seal. Devil's Bit, 5^5
Blood Rooty — — 516
HERBS.
Sanicle. Rattle Snake Plantain, 5 i 7
Poor Robin s Plantain. Toad Plantain.
Rock Liverwort. Gargit or Skoke, 518
Skunk Cabbage or Poke, -— 5 i 9
Wake Robin. Wild Indico. Cat Mint, 520
FLOPFERS, 521
FJRI'
CONTENTS,
FARINACEOUS and LEGU-
MI NOUS ROOTS, &c.
Maize or Indian Corn, — ^ 522
JVild Rice, ■ — — 523
Beans, The Squajh, — ■ 526
APPENDIX.
The Probability of the interior Parts of
North America becoming Commercial Co-
lonies, — — — 527
The Means by which this might be effedied,
529
Travis of hand pointed out, on which Co'
lonies may be ejlablifhed with the greateft
Advantage, — — 531
D'lfertation on the Difcovery of a North-
weft Papge, — — 539
The mojl certain JVay of attaining it, 540
Plan propofed by Richard IVhitwor^h, Efq,
for making an Ai tempt from a garter
hitherto unexplored, — — 441
The F^eafon of its being poflponed, 543
INTRO-
/
A
parrs
CONTENTS.
FARINACEOUS and LEGU^
MI NO US ROOTS, &c.
Maize or Indian Corn, — ' 522
JVild Rice, ■ — — 523
Beans, The Squajh, — • 526
APPENDIX.
The Probability of the interior Parts of
North America becoming Commercial Co-
lonies, — — — 527
The Means by which this might be effedied,
529
TraEis of Land pointed out, on which Co-
lonies may be ejlabli/hed with the greatejt
Advantage, — — 531
Djjfertation on the Difcovery of a North-
weft Pajage, — — ^ 539
The moft cerxain JVay of attaining it, 540
Plan propofed by Richard IVhitwor^h, Efq,
for making an Ai tempt from a garter
hitherto unexplored, — — 441
The F^eafon of its being pofponed, 543
INTRO-
INTRODUCTION.
NO fooner was the late War with
France concluded, and Peace efta-
blilhed by the Treaty of Verfaiiles in the
Year 1763, than I began to conlider
(having rendered my country fome fer-
vices during the war) how I might con-
tinue ftill ferviceable, and contribute, as
much as lay in my power, to make that
vaft acquifition of territory, gained by
Great Britain, in North America advan-
tageous to it. It appeared to me indif-
penfably needful, that Government (hould
be acquainted in the firfl place with the
true flate of the dominions they were
now become polTeffed of. To this pur-
pofe, I determined, as the next proof of
my zeal, to explore the mod unknown
A parts
[ U ]
parts of them, and to fpare no trouble or
expence in acquiring a knowledge that
promifed to be fo ufeful to my country-
men. I knew that many obfl:ru6tions
would arife to my fcheme from the want
of good Maps and Charts; for the French,
whilll they retained their power in North
America, had taken every artful method
to keep all other nations, particularly the
Engiifh, in ignorance of the concerns of
the interior parts of it : and to accomplish
this delign with the greater certainty, they
had publilhed inaccurate maps and falfe
accounts; calling the different nations of
the Indians by nicknames they had given
them, and not by thole really appertain-
ing to them. Whether the intention of
the French in doing this, was to prevent
thefe nations from being difcovered and
traded with, or to conceal their difcourfe,
when they talked to each other of the
Indian concerns, in their prefence, I will
not determine; but whatfoever was the
caufe
[ 1" ]
eaufe from which it arofe, it tended to
) miflead.
As a proof that the EngUfli had been
greatly deceived by thefe accounts, and
that their knowledge relative to Canada
had ufually been very confined, before the
conqueft of Crown-Point in 1759, it had
been efteemed an impregnable fortrefs:
but no fooner was it taken, than we vi^ere
convinced that it had acquired its greatefl
iecurity from falie reports, given out by
its polTefibrs, and might have been batter-
ed down with a few four pounders. Even
its fituation, which was reprefented to be
fo very advantageous, was found to owe
its advantages to the fame fource. It can-
not be denied but that fome maps of thefe
countries have been publiflied by the
French with an appearance of accuracy ;
but thefe are of fo fmall a iize and
drawn on fo minute a fcale, that they
are nearly inexplicable. The fources of
the Miffiffippi, I can aflert from my
A 2 own
[ iv ]
own experience, are greatly mifplaced ; for
when I had explored them, and compared
their fituation with the French Charts, I
found them very erroneoufly reprefented,
and am fatisfied that thefe were only copied
from the rude iketches of the Indians.
Even fo lately as their evacuation of
Canada they continued their fchemes to
deceive; leaving no traces by which any
knowledge might accrue to their con-
querors : for though they were well ac-
quainted with all the Lakes, particularly
with Lake Superior, having conftantly a
vefl'ei of coniiderable burthen thereon, yet
their plans of them are very incorrect. I
difcovered many errors in the defcriptions
given therein of its Iflands and Bays,
during a progrefs of eleven hundred miles
that I Goafted it in canoes. They like-
v/ife, .on giving up the poflieflion of them,
took care to leave the places they had oc-
cupied in the fame uncultivated flate they
bad found them; at the fame time de-
ftroying
[ V ]
flroying all their naval force. I obferved
myfelf part of the hulk of a very large
veflel, burnt to the water's edge, jufh at
the opening from the Straits of St. Ma-
rie's into the Lake.
Thefe difficulties, however, were not
fufficient to deter me from the undertak-
ing, and I made preparations for fetting
out. What I chiefly had in view, after
gaining a knowledge of the Manners, Cuf-
toms. Languages, Soil, and natural Pro-
dudlions of the different nations that in-
habit the back of the Miffiffippi, was to
afcertain the Breadth of that vaft conti-
nent, which extends from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Ocean, in its broadeft part be-
tween 43 and 46 Degrees Northern La-
titude. Had I been able to accomplifh
this, I intended to have propofed to Go-
vernment to eflabhfh a Poft in fome of
thofe parts about the Straits of Annian,
which having been firfl difcovered by Sir
Francis Drake, of courfe belong to the
A3 Englilh.
[ vl ]
£ngli{}i. This I am convinced would
greatly facilitate the difcOvery of a North-
weft Paffage, or a communication between
Hudfon's Bay and the Pacific Ocean. An
event fo defirable, and which has been fo
often fought for, but withoi^t fuccefs. Be-
fides this important end, a fettlement on
that .extremity of America would anfwer
many good purpofes, and repay every ejc-
pence the eftabliiliment of it might occa-
fion. For it would not only diiclofe new
fources of trade, and promote many ufe-
ful difcoveries, but would open a paflage
for conveying intelligence to China, and
the Engliih fettlements in the Eaft Indies,
with greater expedition than a tedious
voyage by the Cape of Good Hope, or
the Straits of Magellan will allow of.
How far the advantages arifing from
fuch an enterprize may extend can only be
afcertained by the favourable concurrence
of future events. But that the completion
of the fcheme, I have had the honour of
iirfl
[ vH ]
firfl planning and attempting, will fome
time or other be effected, I make no
doubt. From the unhappy divilions that
at prefent fubfift between Great Britain
and America, it will probably be fome
years before the attempt is repeated ; but
whenever it is, and the execution of it
carried on with propriety, thofe who are
fo fortunate as to fucceed, will reap, ex-
clufive of the national advantages that
mufl enfue, Emoluments beyond their
moft fanguine expectations. And whilft
their fpirits are elated by their fuccefs,
perhaps they may beftow fome commen-
dations and bleffings on the pcrfbn that
firft pointed out to them the way. Thefe,
though but a fliadowy recompence for all
my toll, 1 {hall receive with pleafure.
To what power or authority this new
world will become dependent, after it has
ariien from its prefent uncultivated ftate,
time alone can difcover. But as the feat
cf Empire from time immemorial has been
A 4 • gra-
[ vlll ]
gradually progreffive towards the Weft,
there is no doubt but that at fome future
period, mighty kingdoms will emerge
from thefe wildernefies, and {lately pala-
ces and folemn temples, with gilded fpires
reaching the ikies, fupplant the Indian huts,
whofe only decorations are the barbarous
trophies of their vanquifhed enemies.
As fome of the preceding palTages have
already informed the Reader that the plan
I had laid down for penetrating to the
Pacific Ocean, proved abortive, it is ne-
celi'ary to add, that this proceeded not
from its impradicability (for the farther
I went the more convinced I was that it
could certainly be accomplifhed) but from
unforefeen dilappointments. However,
I proceeded fo far, that I was able to
make fuch difcoveries as will be ufeful in
apy future attempt, and prove a good
foundation for fame more fortunate Suc-
ceflor to build upon. Thefe I fhall now
lay before the Public in the following
pages ;
[ ■« ]
pages; and am fatlsfied that the greatefr
part of them have never been pubUfhed
by any perlbn that has hitherto treated of
the Interior Nations of the Indians; par-
ticularly, the account I give of the Nau-"
doweffies, and the fituation of the Heads
of the four great rivers that take their rife
within a few leagues of each other, near-
ly about the center of this great contir
nent; viz. The River Bourbon, which
empties itfelf into Hi^dfon's Bay; the
Waters of Saint Lawrence; the Aliilif-
iippi, and the River Oregon, or the River
of the Weft, that falls into the Pacific
Ocean at the Straits of Annian.
The impediments that occafioned my
returning, before I had accomplifhed my
purpofes, were theie. On my arrival at
Michillimackinac, the remoteft Englifh
poU:, in September 1766, I applied to
Mr. Rogers, who was then governor of
it, to furnifh me with a proper aflbrtment
of goods, as prefents for the Indians who
in-
[ ^ ]
inhabit the track I intended to purfue.
He did this only in part ; but promiled to
iupply me with fuch as were neceflary,
when I reached the Falls of Saint An-
thony. I afterwards learned that the
governor fulfilled his promife in ordering
the goods to be delivered to me; but
thofe to whofe care he intruded them, in-
ftead of conforming to his orders, difpofed
of them elfewhere.
Difappointed in my expe£lations from
this quarter, I thought it neceflary to re-
turn to La Prairie Le Chien ; for it was
impoffible to proceed any farther without
prefents to enfure me a favorable recep-
tion. This I did in the beginning of the
year 1767, and finding my progrefs to
the Weflward thus retarded, 1 determined
to d'lrtO: my courfe Northward. I took
this {l:ep with a view of finding a commu-
nication from the Heads of the Miffiffippi
into Lake Superior, in order to meet, at
the grand Portage on the North-weil fide
of
f ^"' ]
of that lake, the traders that iifually come,
about this feafon, from Michillimacklnac.
Of thefe I hiteiided to purchafe goods,
and then to purfue my journey from that
quarter by way of the lakes de Pluye,
Dubois, and Ounlpique to the Heads of
the river of the Weft, which, as I have
faid before, falls into the Straits of Annian,
the termination of my intended progref-.
I accompliflied the former part of my
defign, and reached Lake Superior in
proper time ; but unluckily the traders I
met there acquainted me, that they had no
goods to fpare ; thofe they had with thera
being barely fufficient to anfwer their own
demands in thefe remote parts. Thus dif^
appointed a fecond time, I found myfelf
obliged to return to the place from whence
I began my expedition, which I did after
continuing fome months on the North and
Eaft borders of Lake Superior, and explor-
ing the Bays and Rivers that empty them-
felves into this large body of water.
As
[ xli ]
As it may be expe£led that I fhould
lay before the Pubhc the reafons that
thefe difcoverles, of fo much importance
to every one who has any connexions
with America, have not been Imparted to
them before, notwithllanding they were
made upwards of ten years ago, I will
give them to the world in a plain and
candid manner, and without minghng
with them any complaints on account of
the ill treatment I have received.
On my arrival in England, I prefented
a petition to his Majefty in council, pray-
ing for a reimburfement of thofe fums I
had expended in the fervice of government.
This was referred to the Lords Commif-
lioners of Trade and Plantations. Their
LordflTiips from the tenor of it thought
the intelligence I could give of fo much
importance to the nation that they or-
dered me to appear before the Board.
This meffage I obeyed, and underwent
a long examination; much I believe to
the
[ ^"^ 1
the fatisfaOiion of every Lord prelent.
When it was finifhed, I requefled to
know what I fhould do with my papers ;
without helitation the firft Lord replied,
That I might publifh them whenever I
pleafed. In confequence of this permif-
iion, I difpofed of them to a bookfeller:
but when they were nearly ready for the
prefs, an order was ilTued from the council
board, requiring me to deliver, without
delay, into the Plantation Office, all my
Charts and Journals, with every paper re-
lative to the difcoveries I had made. In
order to obey this command, I was obli-
ged to re-purchafe them from the book-
feller, at a very great expence, and deliver
them up. This frefh difburfement I en-
deavoured to get annexed to the account I
had already delivered in ; but the requed
Avas denied me, notwithftanding I had
only acled, in the difpofal of my papers,
conformably to the permiflion I had re-
ceived from the Board of Trade, This
iois,
[ xlv ]
lofs, which amounted to a very confider-
able fum, I was obliged to bear, and to
reft fatisfied with an inden^nification for
my other expences.
Thus lituated, my only expe6lations
are from the favour of a generous Public;
to whom I fhall now communicate my
Plans, Journals, and Obfervations, of
which I luckily kept copies, when I de-
livered the originals into the Plantation.
OfFxce. And this I do the more readily,
as I hear they are miflaid; and there is
no probability of their ever being publifh-
ed. To thofe who are interefted in the
concerns of the interior parts of North
America, from the contiguity of their
pofieffions, or commercial engagements,
they will be extremely ufeful, and fully
repay the fum at which they are purcha-
fed. To thofe, who, from a laudable
curiofity, wiih to be acquainted with the
manners and cuftoms of every inhabitant
of this globe, the accounts here given of
the
[ XV ]
the various nations that hihablt (o vaft a
tiack of it, a country hitherto almoft un-
explored, will furnifh an ample fund of
amufement and gratify their moft curious
expedlations. And I flatter myfelf they
will be as favourably received by the
Public, as defcrlptions of iflands, which
afford no other entertainment than what
arifes from their novelty ; and difcoveries,
that feem to promlie very few advantages
to this country, though acquired at an
immenfe expence.
To make the following Work as com-
prehenfible and entertaining as poffible, I
fhall firfl give my Readers an account of
the route I purfued over this immenfe
continent (through which they will be
able to attend me by referring to the plan
prefixed) and as I pafs on, defcribe the
number of Inhabitants, the lituation of
the Rivers and Lakes, and the produ6lions
of the country. Having done this, I
fliall treat, in difl:in6t Chapters, of the
Man-
[ xvi ]
Manners, Cuftoms, and Languages of the
Indians, and to complete the whole, add
a Vocabulary of the Words moftly In ufe
among them.
And here it is neceflary to befpeak the
candour of the learned part of my Readers
in the perufal of it, as it is the produc-
tion of a perfon unufed, from oppofite
avocations, to literary purfuits. He there-
fore begs they would not examine it with,
too critical an eye; efpecially when he •
iiiTures them that his attention has been
more employed on giving a juft defcrip-
tion of a country that promifes, in fome
future period, to be an inexhauftible fource
of riches to that people who fhall be fo
fortunate as to poffefs it, than on the ftyle
or compofition ; and more careful to ren-
der his language intelligible and explicit,
than fmooth and fiorid.
^F
IP^
[ xvi ]
Manners, Cuftoms, and Languages of the
Indians, and to complete the whole, add
a Vocabulary of the Words moftly in ufe
among them.
And here it is neceflarj to befpeak the
candour of the learned part of my Readers
in the perufal of it, as it is the produc-
tion of a perfon unufed, from oppofite
avocations, to literary purfuits. He there-
fore begs they would not examine it with
too critical an eye; efpecially when he •
aiTures them that his attention has been
more employed on giving a jufl defcrip-
tion of a country that promifes, in fome
future period, to be an inexhauftible fource
of riches to that people who ihall be fo
fortunate as to polTefs it, than on the flyle
oi" compofition ; and more careful to ren-
der his language intelligible and explicit,
than fmooth and florid.
\ ■
A
JOURNAL OF THE TRAVELS,
WITH A
DESCRIPTION
O F T H E
COUNTRY, LAKES, Sec.
IN June 1766, I fet out from Boflon,
and proceeded by way of Albany and
Niagara, to MichlUimackinac ; a Fort
iituated between the Lakes Huron and
Alichigan, and dlftant from Boflon 1300
miles. This being the uttermofl of our
factories towards the north-weft, I con-
fidered it as the mofl convenient place
from whence I could begin my intended
progrefs, and enter at once into the Re-
gions I deiigned to explore.
Referring my Readers to the publica-
tions already extant for an Account of
thofe Parts of North America, that, from
B lying
[ i8 ]
lying adjacent to the Back-Settlements,
have been frequently defcrlbed, I (hall
confine myielt to a Defcription of the more
interior parts of it, which having been but
feldom viiited, are confequently but little
known. In doing this, I fliall in no in-
flance exceed the bounds of truth, or have
recourfc to thofe ufelefs and extravagant
exaggerations too often made ufe of by
travellers, to excite the curloiity of the
public, or to incrcafe their own importance.
Nor fhall I infert any obfervations, but
fuch as I have made myfelf, or, from
the credibility of thofe by whom they
were related, am enabled to vouch for their
authenticity.
Michillimackinac, from whence I be-
gan my travels, is a P'ort compofed of a
flrong flockade, and is ufually defended
by a garrifon of one hundred men. It
contains about thirty houfes, one of
which belongs to the governor, and an-
other to the commiliary. Several traders
alfo dw^U within its fortifications, who
fnid it a convenient fituation to traffic
with the neig-hbourinj^ nations. Michil-
limackinac, in the language of the Chi-
peway
['9 3
peway Indians, fignifies aTortoife ; and the
place is llippofed to receive its name from
an Ifland, lying about fix or feven miles to
the north-eaft, within light of the Fort,
which has the appearance of that animal.
During the Indian war that fol-
lowed foon after the Conqueft of Ca-
nada in the year 1763, and which was
carried on by an army of confederate
nations compofed of the Hurons, Mia-
mies, Chipeways, Ottowaws, Pontowat-
timies, Mifiiffauges, and fome other tribes,
under the direction of Pontiac, a cele-
brated Indian warrior, who had always
been in the French intereft, it was taken
by furprize in the following manner :
The Indians having fettled their plan,
drew near the Fort, and began a game at
Ball, a paflime much ufed among them,
and not unlike tennis. In the height of
their game, at which fome of the Englifh
officers, not fufpedling any deceit, ftood
looking on, they flruck the ball, as if
by accident, over the ftockade ; this
they repeated two or three times, to
make the deception more complete ; till
at length, having by this means lulled
B 2 every
[ 20 ]
every lulpicioii of the centry at the foiith
gate, a party rufhed by Kim ; and the reft
foon following, they took poffeffion of
the Fort, without meeting with any op-
pofition. Having accomplifhed their de-
iign, the Indians had the humanity to
fpare the lives of the greateft part of the
garrilon and traders, but they made them
all prilbners, and carried them off. How-
ever lome time after they took them to
Montreal, where they were redeemed at a
good price. The Fort alfb was given up
again to the Englifli at the peace made
with Pontiac by the commander of Detroit
the year following.
Having here made the neceffary dlf-
pofitions for purfuing my travels, and
obtained a credit from Mr. Rogers, the
governor, on fome Englifh and Canadian
traders who were going to trade on the
MifhfTippi, and received alfo from him
a promife of a frelh fupply of goods
when I reached the Falls of Saint An-
thony, 1 left the Fort on the 3d of Sep-
tember, in company with thefe traders.
It was agreed, that they fhould furnilh
me with fuch goods as I might want,
for
[ 2, ]
for preients to the Indian chiefs, during
my continuance with them, agreeable to
the governor's order. But when I ar-
rived at the extent of their route, I was to
find other guides, and to depend on the
goods the governor had promiled to fupply
me with.
We accordingly fet out together, and
on the 1 8th arrived at Fort La Bay.
This Fort is fituated on the Ibuthern ex-
tremity of a Bay in Lake Michigan,
termed by the French the Bay of Pu-
ants ; but which, fince the Englifh have
gained pofleiiion of all the fettlements on
this part of the Continent, is called by
them the Green Bay. The reafon of its
being thus denominated, is from its ap-
pearance; for on leaving Michillimackinac
in the fpring feafon, though the trees there
have not even put forth their buds, yet
you find the country around La Bay, not-
witliflanding the paffage has not exceeded
fourteen days, covered with the finefl ver-
dure, and vegetation as forward as it could
be were it fummer.
This Fort, alfo, is only furrounded
by a ftockade, and being much decayed
B 3 is
[ 22 ]
is fcarcely defenfible againfl: fmall arms*
It was built by the French for the pro-
tedlion of their trade, fome time before
they were forced to relinqiiifh it ; and
when Canada and its dependencies were
furrendered to the English, it was im-
mediately garrifoned with an officer and
thirty men. Thefe were made prifoners
by the Menomonies foon after the fur-?
prife of Michillimackinac, and the Fort
has neither been garrifoned or kept in re-
pair fince. %
The Bay is about ninety miles long,
but differs much in its breadth ; being in
fome places only fifteen miles, in others
froni twenty to thirty. It lies nearly
frona north-eaft to fouth-weft. At the en-
trance of it from the Lake are a firing of
iflands, extending from north to fouth, cal-
led the Grand Tr^iverle. Tjiefe are about
thirty rniles in length, and ferye to faci-
litate the paflage of canoes, as they (belter
them from the winds, which fometimes
come with violence acrofs the Lake. On
the fide that lies to the fouth-eaft is the
neareft and heft navigatiqn.
The
[ ^3 ]
• The Iflands of the Grand Traverfe are
moftly fmall and rocky. Many of the
rocks are of an amazing fize, and appear
as if they had heen fafliioned by the
hands of artifls. On the largeft and heft
of thefe. iflands ftands a town of the
Ottowaws, at which I found one of the
moll confiderable chiefs of that nation,
who received me with every honour he
could polfibly fhow to a ftranger. But
what appeared extremely fingular to me
at the time, and mufl: do fo to every
perfon unacquainted with the cuftoms of
the Indians, was tlie reception I met
with on landing. As our canoes ap-
proached the fhore, and had reached with-
in about threefcore rods of it, the In-
dians began a feu^de-joy ; in which they
fired their pieces loaded with balls ; but
at the fame time they took care to dif-
charge them in fuch a manner, as to
fly a few yards above our heads : during
this they ran from one tree or flump to
another, flioutlng and behaving as if
they were in the heat of battle. At firfh
I was greatly fuprifed, and was on the
point of ordering my attendants to return
B 4- their
[ 24 ]
their fire, concluding that their intentions
were hoftile; but being undeceived by
fome of the traders, who informed me
that this was their ulual method of receiv-
ing the chiefs of other nations, I conii-
dered it in its true light, and was pleafed
with the refped thus paid me.
I remained here one night. Among
the prefents I made the chiefs, were fome
fpirituous liquors; with which they made
themfelves merry, and all joined in a
dance, that lafted the greateft part of the
j^ight. In the morning when I departed,
the chief attended me to the fhore, and,
as foon as I had embarked, offered up, in
an audible voice, and with great folem-
nity, a fervent prayer in my behalf. He
prayed " that the Great Spirit would fa-
vour me with a proiperous voyage ; that
he would give me an unclouded iky, and
Imooth waters, by day, and that I might
lie down, by night, on a beaver blanket,
enjoying uninterrupted fleep, and pleafant
dreams ; and alfo that I might find con-
tinual protcdion under the great pipe of
peace.'* In this manner he continued
[ -5 ]
his petitions till I could no longer hear
them.
I mull: here obferve, that notwithftand-
ing the inhabitants of Europe are apt
to entertain horrid ideas of the ferocity
ofthefe favages, as they are termed, I
received from every tribe of them in the
interior parts, the moft hofpitable and
courteous treatment ; and am convinced,
that till they are contaminated by the
example and fpirituous liquors of their
more refined neighbours, they retain this
friendly and inoffenfive condudl towards
Grangers. Their inveteracy and cruelty
to their enemies I acknowledge to be a
great abatement of the favourable opinion
I would wifh to entertain of them ; but
this failing is hereditary, and having re-
ceived the fanOion of immemorial cuflom,
has taken too deep root in their minds to
be ever extirpated.
Among this people 1 eat of a very un-
common kind of bread. The Indians, in
general, ufe but little of this nutritious
food : whilll: their corn is in the milk, as
they term it, that is, jufh before it be-
gins
, [ 26 ]
gins to ripen, they flice off the "kernels
from the cob to which they grow, and
knead them into a pafte. This they are
enabled to do without tlie addition of any
liquid, by the milk that flows from them ;
and when it is elfecled, they parcel it out
into cakes, and incloiing them in leaves
of the baflwood tree, place them in hot
embers, where they are foon baked. And
better flavoured bread I never eat in any
country.
This place is only a fmall village con-^
talnlng about twenty-five houfes and fixty
or feventy warriors. I found nothing
there worthy of further remark.
The land on the fouth-eaft fide of the
Green Bay is but very indifferent, being
overfpread with a heavy growth of hem-
lock, pine, fpruce and fir trees. The
communication between Lake Michigan
and the Green Bay has been reported by
fome to be impradicable for the paffage
of any veffels larger than canoes or boats,
on accouiU of the Ihoals that lie between
the iflands in the Grand Traverfe ; but
on founding it 1 found fufhcient depth
for
t 27 1
^r a veffel of fixty tons, and the breadth
proportionable.
The land adjoining to the bottom of
this Bay is very fertile, the country in
general level, and the perfpe^live view of
it pleafing and extenfive.
A few families live in the Fort, which
lies on the weft-lide of the Fox River, and
oppofite to it, on the eaft fide of its en-
trance, are ibme French fettlers who cul-
tivate the land, and appear to live very
comfortably.
The Green Bay or Bay of Puants is
one of thofe places to which the French,
as I have mentioned in the Introdudion,
have given nicknames. It is termed by the
inhabitants of its coafls, the Menomonie
Bay; but why the French have deno-
minated it the Puant or Stinking Bay I
know not. The reafon they themfelves
give for it is, that it was not with a view
to miflead Grangers, but that by adopt-
ing this method they could converfe with
each other, concerning the Indians, in
their prelence, without being underftood
by them. For it was remarked by the
perfons who firfl traded among them, that
when they were ipeaking to each other
about
[ 28 ]
about them, and mentioned their proper
name, they Inftantly grew fufpicious, and
concluded that their vliiters were either
fpeaklng ill of them, or plotting their de-
ftru6lion. To remedy this they gave
them fome other name. The only bad
confequence ariiing from the practice then
introduced is, that Englifli and French
geographers, in their plans of the interior
parts of America, give different names to
the fame people, and thereby perplex thofe
who have occalion to refer to them.
Lake Michigan, of which the Green
Bay is a part, is divided on the north-
eaft from Lake Huron by the Straits of
Michillimackinac ; and is fituated be-
tween forty-two and forty-lix degrees of
latitude, and between eighty-four and
eighty-feven degrees of weft longitude.
Its greateft length is two hundred and
eighty miles, its breadth about forty,
and its circumference nearly fix hundred.
There is a remarkable ftring of fmali
jflands beginning over againft Alkin's Farm,
and running about thirty miles fouth-
weft into the Lake. Thefe are called
the Beaver Iflands. Their fituation is very
pleafant,
[ 29 ]
pleafant, but the foil is bare. However
they afford a beautiful profpedt.
On the north-weft parts of this Lake
th& waters branch out into two bays. That
which hes towards the north is the Bay
of Noquets, and the other the Green Bay
juft defer i bed.
The waters of this as well as the other
great Lakes are clear and wholefome, and
of fufRcient depth for the navigation of
large ihips. Half the fpace of the coun-
try that lies to the eaft, and extends to
Lake Huron, belongs to the Ottowaw
Indians. The line that divides their ter-
ritories from the Chipeways, runs near-
ly north and fouth, and reaches almoft
from the fouthern extremity of this Lake,
acrofs the high lands, to Michillimackinac,
through the center of which it paffes. So
that when thefe two tribes happen to meet
at the fa£lory, they each encamp on their
own dominions, at a few vards diftance
from the ftockade.
The country adjacent either to the
eaft or weft fide of this lake is compofed
but of an Indifferent foil, except where
fmall brooks or rivers empty themfelves
into
t 3° ]
into it ; on the banks of thefe It is ex-*
tremely fertile. Near the borders of the
Lake grow a great number of fand cher-
ries, which are not lefs remarkable for
their manner of growth, than for their ex-
qiiifite flavour* They grow upon a fmall
fhrub not more than four feet high, the
boughs of which are fo loaded that they
lie in clufters on the fand. As they
grow only on the fand, the warmth of
which probably contributes to bring them
to fuch perfection, they are called by the
French, cherries de fable, or fand cherries.
The fize of them does not exceed that of a
fmall mulket ball, but they are reckoned
fuperior to any other fort for the purpofe
of fteeping in fpirits. There alfo grovr
around the Lake goofeberries, black cur-
rants, and an abundance of juniper, bear-
ing great quantities of berries of the iinefb
fort.
Sumack likewife grows here in great
plenty; the leaf of which, gathered at
Michaelmas when it turns red, is much
efleemed by the natives. They mix
about an equal quantity of it with theit
tobacco, which caufes it to Imoke plea-
fluitly.
t 3« ]
fantly. Near this Lnke, and indeed
about all the great lakes, is found a kind
of willow, termed by the French, bois
rouge, in Engiiih red wood. Its bark,
when only of one year's growth, is of a
fine fcarlet colour, and appears very beau-
tiful ) but as it grows older, it changes
into a mixture of grey and red. The
ilalks of this flirub grow many of them
together, and rile to the height of fix or
eight feet, the largefl not exceeding an
inch diameter. The bark being fcraped
from the flicks, and dried and powdered,
is alfo mixed by the Indians with their
tobacco, and is held by them in the
highefl eftimation for their winter fmoak-
ing. A weed that grows near the great
lakes, in rocky places, they ufe in the
fummer leafon. It is called by the In-
dians, Segockimac, and creeps like a vine
on the ground, fometimes extending to
eight or ten feet, and bearing a leaf about
the lize of a iilver penny, nearly round ;
it is of the lubflance and colour of the
laurel, and is, like the tree it refembles,
an evergreen. Thefe leaves, dried and
powdered, they likewife mix w^ith their
tobacco ;
[ 3^ ]
tobacco; and, as faid before, fmoak it
only during the fummer. By thefe three
fuccedaneums the pipes of the Indians are
well fupplied through every feafon of the
year ; and as they are great fmoakers, they
are very careful in properly gathering and
preparing them.
On the 2oth of September I left the • ,
Green Bay, and proceeded up Fox River,
ftill in company with the traders and fome
Indians. On the 25 th I arrived at the
great town of the Winnebagoes, fituatcd
on a fmall ifland juft as you enter the
eaft end of Lake Winnebago. Here the
queen who prefided over this tribe inftead
of a Sachem, received me with great ci-
vility, and entertained me in a very dif-
tinguiflied manner, during the four days
1 continued with her.
The day after my arrival I held a
council with the chiefs, of whom I alk-
ed permillion to pafs through their coun-
try, in my way to more remote nations
on bulinefs of importance. This was
readily granted me, the requeft being
efteemed by them as a great compliment
paid to their tribe. The Queen fat in
the
t 33 }
the council, but only afked a few quef-
tions, or gave fome trifling diredlions in
matters relative to the ftate ; for women
are never allowed to fit in their councils,
except they happen to be invefted with
the fupreme authority, and then it is not
cuftomary for them to make any formal
Ipteches as the chiefs do. She was a very
ancient woman, fmall in feature, and not
much diftinguifhed by her drefs from
feveral young women that attended her.
Thefe her attendants feemed greatly pleafed
whenever I iliowed any tokens of refpedt
to their queen, particularly when I fainted
her, which I frequently did to acquire
her favour. On thefe occaiions the good
old lady endeavoured to aflbme a juvenile
gaiety, and by her fmiles fhowed fhe
was equally pleafed with the attention . I
•paid her.
The time I tarried here, I employed in
making the beft obfervations pollible on
the country, and in collefting the moft
certain intelHgence I could of the origin,
language, and cufloms of this people. From
thefe enquiries I have reafon to conclude,
tliat the Winnebagoes originally refided in
C fome
[ 3* ]
fome of the provinces belonging to New
Mexico ; and being driven from their na-
tive country, either by intefline divifions,
or by the extenfion of the Spaniih con-
quefts, they took refuge in thefe more
northern parts about a century ago.
My reafons for adopting this fuppofition,
are, firfl: from their unalienable attach-
ment to the Naudoweilie Indians (who,
they fay, gave them the earlieft fuccour
during their emigration) notwithftanding
their prefent refidence is more than fix
hundred miles diilant from that people.
Secondly, that their diale£l totally dif-
fers from every other Indian nation yet
difcovered ; it being a very uncouth gut-
tural jargon, which none of their neigh-
bours will attempt to learn. They con-
verfe with other nation^ in the Chipeway
tongue, whicli is the prevailing language
throughout all the tribes, from the Mo-
hawks of Canada to thole who inhabit the
borders of the Miliiffippi, and from the
Hurons and Illinois to luch as dwell near
Hudfon's Bay.
Thirdly, from their inveterate hatred
to the Spaniards. Some of them in-
formed
[ 35 ]
formed me that they had made many ex-
ciifions to the fouth-weft, which took
up feveral moons. An elderly chief more
particularly acquainted me, that about
forty-fix winters ago, he marched, at the
head of fifty warriors, towards the fbuth-
weft, for three moons. That during this
expedition, whilft they were croffing a
plain, they difcovered a body of men on
horfeback, who belonged to the Black
People ; for fo they call the Spaniards,
As ibon as they perceived them, they pro-
ceeded with caution, and concealed them-
felves till night came on ; when they
drew fo near as to be able to difcern the
number and fituation of their enemies.
Finding they were not able to cope with
fb great a fuperiority by day-light, they
waited till they had retired to reft; when
they rufhed upon them, and, after hav-
ing killed the greatefl part of the mei:i^
took eighty horles loaded with what they
termed white ftone. This I fuppofe to
have been filver, as he told me the horfes
were {hod with it, and that their bridles
were ornamented with the fame. When
they had fatiated their revenge, they car-
C z ried
I 36 ]
rled off their fpoil, and being got fo fctr
as to be out of the reach of the Spaniards ,
that had efcaped their fury, they left the
ufelels and ponderous burthen, with which
the horfes were loaded, in the woods, and
mounting themfelves, in this manner re-
turned to their friends. The party they
had thus defeated, I conclude to be the
caravan that annually conveys to Mexico,
the filver which the Spaniards find in
great quantities on the mountains lying
near the heads of the Coloredo River : and
the plains where the attack was made,
probably, fome they were obliged to pafs
over in their way to the heads of the Ri-
v^' St. Fee, or Rio del Nord, which falls
into the Gulph of Mexico to the weft of
the Miffiffippi.
The Winnebagoes can raife about two
hundred warriors. Their town contains
about fifty houfes, which are ftrongly built
with palifades, and the ifland on which it
is fituated nearly fifty acres. It lies thlrty-
iive miles, reckoning according to the courle
of the river, from the Green Bay.
The River, for about four or five miles
from the Bay, has a gentk current ; after
that
[ 37 ]
that fpace, till you arrive at the Winne-
bago Lake, it is full of rocks and very ra-
paid. At many places we were obliged to
land our canoes, and carry them a confider-
able way. Its breadth, in general, from
the Green Bay to the Winnebago Lake, is
between feventy and a hundred yards : the
land on its borders very good, and thinly
wooded with hickery, oak, and hazel.
The Winnebago Lake is about fifteen
miles long from eaft to weft, and fix miles
wide. At its fouth-eaft corner, a river
falls into it that takes its rile near foma
of the northern branches of the Illinois
River. This I called the Crocodile Ri-
ver, in confequence of a ftory that pre-
vails among the Indians, of their having
deftroyed, in fome part of it, an animal,
which from their defcription muft be a
crocodile or an alligator.
The land adjacent to the Lake is very
fertile, abounding with grapes, plums, and
other fruits, which grow fpontaneoufly.
The Winnebagoes raife on it a great quan-
tity of Indian corn, beans, pumpkins,
fqualh, and water melons, with fome to-
bacco. The Lake itfelf abounds with
C 3 fiih,
C 38 J
fifh, and in the fall of the year, "with geele^
duoks, and teal. The latter, which refort
to it in great numbers, are remarkably
good and extremely fat, and are much bet-
ter flavoured than thofe that are found
near the fea, as they acquire their exceffive
fatnefs by feeding on the wild rice, which
grow fo plentifully in thefe parts*
Having made fome acceptable prefents
to the good old queen, and received her
bleffing, I left the town of the Winne-
bagoes on the 29th of September, and
about twelve miles from it arrived at the
place where the Fox River enters the Lake
on the north fide of it. We proceeded
up this river, and on the 7th of October
reached the great Carrying Place, which
divides it from the Ouifconfin.
The Fox River, from the Green Bay
to the Carrying Place, is about one hun-
dred and eighty miles. From the Winne-
bago Lake to the Carrying Place the cur-
rent is gentle, and the depth of it confi-
derable; notwithftanding which, in fome
places it is with difficulty that canoes can
pafs, through the obflrudions they meet
with from the rice ftalks, which are very
large
r 39 ]
large and thick, and grow here in great
abundance. The country around it is
very fertile and proper in the higheft de-
gree for cultivation, excepting in fome
places near the River, where it is rather
too low. It is in no part very woody,
and yet can fupply fufficient to anfwer the
demands of any number of inhabitants.
This river is the greatefl refbrt for wild
fowl of every kind that I met with in the
whole courfe of my travels ; frequently the
fun would be obfcured by them for fome
minutes together.
About forty miles up this river, from
the great town of the Winnebagoes, ftands
a fmaller town belonging to that nation.
Deer and bears are very numerous in
thefe parts, and a great many beavers and
other furs are taken on the flreams that
empty themfelves into this river.
The River I am treating of, is remark-
able for having been, about eighty years
ago, the refidence of the united bands of
the Ottigaumies and the Saukies, whom
the French had nicknamed, according to
their wonted cuftom, Des Sacs and Des
Reynards, the Sacks and the Foxes, of
C 4 whom
[ 40 3
wKom the following anecdote was related
to me by an Indian.
. About lixty years ago, the French
miffionaries and traders having received
many infults from thefe people, a party
of French and Indians under the com-
mand of Captain Morand marched to re-
venge their wrongs. The captain fet out
from the Green Bay in the winter, when
they were unfufpicious of a viiit of this
kind, and purfuing his route over the fnow
to their villages, which lay about fifty
miles up the Fox River, came upon them
by furprize. Unprepared as they were,
he found them an eafy conquefl:, and
confequently killed or took prifoners the
greateft part of them. On the return of
the French to the Green Bay, one of the
Indian chiefs in alliance with them, who
had a confiderable band of the prifoners
under his care, flopped to drink at a
brook ; in the mean time his companions
went on : which being obferved by one
of the women whom they had made cap-
tive, fhe fuddenly feiz;ed him with both
her hands, whilfh he ftooped to drink,
by an exquifitely fufceptible part, and held
him
[ 41 1
liim faft till he expired on the fpot. As
the chief, from the extreme torture he
fuffered, was unable to call out to his
friends, or to give any alarm, they palTed
on without knowing what had happened ;
and the woman having cut the bands of
thofe of her fellow prifoners who were
in the rear, with them made her efcape.
This heroine- was ever after treated by her
nation as their deliverer, and made a chief-
efs in her own right, with liberty to en-
tail the fame honour on her defcendants :
an unufual diftindtion, and permitted only
on extraordinary occafions.
About twelve miles before I reached the
Carrying Place, I obferved feveral fmall
mountains which extended quite to it.
Thefe indeed would only be efteemed as
molehills when compared with thofe on the
back of the colonies, but as they were the
firfl I had feen lince my leaving Niagara,
a track of nearly eleven hundred miles, I
could not leave them unnoticed.
The Fox River, where it enters the
Winnebago Lake, is about fifty yards
wide, but it gradually decreafes to the
Carrying Place, where it is no more than
five
[ 42 ]
five yards over, except in a few places
where it widens into fmall lakes, though
fliil of a confiderable depth. I cannot re-
collecl any thing elfe that is remarkable in
this River, except that it fo Terpentines for
iive miles, as only to gain in that place
one quarter of a mile.
The Carrying Place between the Fox
and Ouifconiin Rivers is in breadth not
more than a mile and three quarters,
though in fome maps it is fo delineated as
to appear to be ten miles. And hei^ I
cannot help remarking, that all the maps
of thefe parts, I have ever feen, are very
erroneous. The rivers in general are de-
fcribed as running in different directions
from what they really do ; and many
branches of them, particularly of the Mif-
iiffippi, omitted. The diftances of places^
likev/ife, are greatly mifreprefented. Whe-
ther this is done by the French geogra-
phers (for the Englilh maps are all co-
pied from theirs) through defign, or for
want of a juft knowledge of the country,
1 cannot fay ; but I am fatisfied that tra-
vellers who depend upon them in the parts
I vilitedj will find themfelves much at a
lofs.
t 43 1
loCs, Having furveyed with the greatefl:
care, every country through which I
pafled, I can aflert that the plan prefixed
to this work is drawn with much greater
precifion than any extant.
Near one half of the way, between
the rivers, is a morafs overgrown with a
kind of long grafs, the refl of it a plain,
with fbme few oak and pine trees grow-
ing thereon. I obferved here a great
number of rattle-fnakcs. Monf. Pinni-
fance, a French trader, told me a remark-
able ftory concerning one of thefe rep-
tiles, of which he faid he was an eye-
witnefs. An Indian, belonging to the
Menomonie nation, having taken one of
them, found means to tame it; and when
he had done this, treated it as a Deity ;
calling it his Great Father, and carry-
ing it with him in a box wherever he
went. This the Indian had done for fe-
veral fummers, when Monf. Pinnifance
accidentally met with him at this Carry-
ing Place, jufl as he was fetting off for a
winter's hunt. The French gentleman
was furprized, one day, to fee the Indian
place the box which contained his god on
the
■ [ 44 ]
the ground, and opening the door give
him his liberty ; telling him, whilfl he
did it, to be fure and return by the time
he himfelf fliould come back, which was
to be in the month of May following.
As this was but October, Monfieur told
the Indian, whofe fimplicity aftonifhed
him, that he fancied he might wait long
enough when May arrived, for the arrival
of his great father. The Indian was fo
confident of his creature's obedience, that
he offered to lay the Frenchman a wager
of two gallons of rum, that at the time
appointed he would come and crawl into
his box. This was agreed on, and the
fecond week in May following fixed for^
the determination of the wager. At that
period they both met there again ; when
the Indla^ fet down his box, and called
for his great father. The fnake heard
him not ; and the time being now ex-
pired, he acknowledged that he had loft.
However, without leeming to be dif-
couraged, he offered to double the bett if
his great father came not within two
days more. This was further agreed on ;
when behold on the fecond day, about
one
[ 45 ]
one o'clock, the fnake arrived, and, of his
own accord, crawled into the box, which
was placed ready for him. The French
gentleman vouched for the truth of this
itory, and from the accounts I have often
received of the dociHty of thofe creatures,
I fee no reafon to doubt his veracity.
I obferved that the main body of the
Fox River came from the fouth-weft,
that of the Ouifconfin from the north-
eaft ; and alfo that fome of the fmall
branches of thefe two rivers, in defcend-
ing into them, doubled, within a few
feet of each other, a little to the fouth
of the Carrying Place. That two fuch
Rivers (hould take their rife fo near each
other, and after running fuch different
courfes, empty themfelves into the fea
at a diftance fo amazing (for the former
having palled through feveral great lakes,
and run upwards of two thoufand miles,
falls into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and
the other, after joining the MiiTiffippi,
and having run an equal number of
miles, difembogues itfelf into the Gulph
of Mexico) is an inflance fcarcely to be
met in the exteniive continent of North
America,
[ 46 ]
America. I had an opportunity the year
following, of making the fame obfer-
vations on the affinity of various head
branches of the waters of the St. Law-
rence and the Milfiffippi to each other ;
and now bring them as a proof, that the
opinion of thofe geographers, who aflert,
that rivers taking their rife fo near each
other, mufl fpring from the fame fource,
is erroneous. For I perceived a vilibly
dlftindt feparatlon in all of them, notwith-
flandlng, in fome places, they approached
fo near, that I could have flepped from
one to the other.
On the 8th of 0(Slober we got our ca-
noes into the Ouifconfin River, which at
this place is more than a hundred yards
wide ; and the next day arrived at the
Great Town of the Saukies. This is the
largefl and beft built Indian town I ever
faw. It contains about ninety houfes, each
large enough for feveral families. Thefe
are built of hewn plank neatly jointed,
and covered with bark fo compactly as to
keep out the moil penetrating rains. Be-
fore the doors are placed comfortable fheds,
in which the inhabitants lit, when the
weather will permit, and fmoak their
pipes.
[ 47 ]
pipes. The ftreets are regular and fpa-
cious ; fo that it appears more like a civi-
lized town than the abode of favages. The
land near the town is very good. In their
plantations, which lie adjacent to their
houfes, and which are neatly laid out,
they raife great quantities of Indian corn,
beans, melons, &c. fo that this place is
efteemed the beft market for traders to fur-
niih themfelves with proviiions, of any
within eieht hundred miles of it.
The Saukies can raife about three hun-
dred warriors, who are generally employed
every fummer in making incurfions into
the territories of the Illinois and Pawnee
nations, from whence they return with a
great number of Haves. But thofe people
frequently retaliate, and, in their turn, de-
flroy many of the Saukies, which I judge to
be the reafon that they Increafe no fafter.
Whilft I ftaid here, I took a view of
fome mountains that lie about fifteen miles
to the fouthward, and abound in lead ore,
I afcended one of the highefl of thefe, and
had an extenfive view of the country. For
many miles nothing was to be {qqii but
lefler mountains, which appeared at a dif-
ftance like haycocks, they being free from
* trees.
[ 48 3
trees. Only a few groves of hickery, and
ftunted oaks, covered fome of the vallies.
So plentiful is lead here, that I faw large
quantities of it lying about the ftreets in
the town belonging to the Saukies, and
it feemed to be as good as the produce of
other countries.
On the I oth of 06lober we proceeded
down the river, and the next day reached
the firfl: town of the Ottigaumies. This
town contained about iifty houfes, but we
found mofl of them d^fert-^d, on account
of an epidemical diforder that had lately
raged among them, and carried off more
than one half of the inhabitants. The
greater part of thofe who furvived had re-
tired into the woods, to avoid the contagion.
On the 15 th we entered that exten-
flve river the Miffiffippi. The Ouifcon-
fin, from the Carrying Place to the part
where it falls into the Miffiffippi, flows
with a fmooth but a ftrong current; the
water of it is exceedingly clear, and
through it you may perceive a fine and
fandy bottom, tolerably free from rocks.
In it are a few iflands, the foil of which
appeared to be good, though fomewhat
woody. The land near tlie river alfo
feemed
[ 49 ]
feemed to be, in general, excellent ; but
that at a diftance is very full of moun-
tains, where it is faid there are many lead
mines.
About five miles from the jundion of
the rivers, I obferved the ruins of a large
town in a very pleafing fituation. On
enquiring of the neighbouring Indians
why it was thus deferted, I was inform-
ed, that about thirty years ago, the Great
Spirit had appeared on the top of a py-
ramid of rocks, which lay at a little
diftance from it, towards the weft, and
warned them to quit their habitations ;
for the land on which they were built
belonged to him, and he had occafion
for it. As a proof that he, who gave
them thele orders, was really the Great
Spirit, he further told them, that the grafs
fhould immediately fpring up on thofe
very rocks from whence he now addreff-
ed them, which they knew to be bare
and barren. The Indians obeved, and
loon after difcovered that this miraculous
alteration had taken place. They fhewed
me the fpot, but the growth of the grafs
appeared to be no ways lupernatural. I
apprehend this to have been a flratagem
D of
[ 5° ]
of the French or Spaniards to anfwer Tome
lelfifh view ; but in what manner they
cffedied their purpofes I know not.
This people, foon after their removal,
built a town on the bank of the Miffiffippi,
near the mouth of the Ouifconlin, at a
place called by the French La Prairies ies
Chlens, which fignifies the Dog Plains ;
it is a large town, and contains about
three hundred families ; the houfes are well
built after the Indian manner, and plea-
fantly fituated on a very rich foil, from
which they raife every neceffary of life
in great abundance. I faw here many
horles of a good fize and fliape. This
town is the great mart, where all the ad-
jacent tribes, and even thofe who in-
habit the moft remote branches of the
Miffiffippi, annually affemble about the
latter end of May, bringing with them
their furs to diipofe of to the traders.
But it is not always that they conclude
their fale here ; this is determined by a
general council of the chiefs, who con-
fult whether it w^ould be more conducive
to their Interelf, to fell their goods at this
place, or carry them on to Louifiana, or
Michillimackinac. According to the de-
cilion
[ 5t ]
cllion of this council they either pro-
ceed further, or return to their different
horned.
The Mifiiffippi, at the entrance of the
Ouifconlin, near which ftands a mountain
of coniiderable height, is about half a
mile over ; but opposite to the lail: men-
tioned town it appears to be more than
a mile wide, and full of iflands, the foil
of which is extraordinary rich, and but
thinly wooded.
A little farther to the weft, on the
contrary lide, a fmall river falls into the
Miffiffippi, which the French call Le Jaun
Riviere, or the Yellow River. Here the
traders who had accompanied me hitherto,
took up their relidence for the winter. I
then bought a canoe, and with two Ser-
vants, one a French Canadian and the
other a Mohawk of Canada, on the 19th
proceeded up the Mifliffippi.
About ten days afteY 1 had parted from
the traders, I landed as I i:fually did every
evening, and having pitched my tent, I
ordered my men, when night came on,
to lay themfelves down to deep. By a
light that I kept burning 1 then fat down
to copy the minutes I had taken in the
D 2 courie
[ 5^ ]
courle of the preceding day. About ten
o'clock, having jufl finifhed my memo-
randums, I ftepped out of my tent t©
fee what weather it w^as. As I cafl: my
eyes towards the bank of the river, I
thought I faw by the light of the ftars
which fhone bright, fomethlng that had
the appearance of a herd of beafts coming
down a defcent at fome diftance ; whilft
I was wondering what they could be, one
of the number fuddenly fprung up and dil-
covered to me the form of a man. In an
inftant they were all on their legs, and I
could count about ten or twelve of them
running towards me. I immediately re-
entered the tent, and awaking my men,
ordered them to take their arms, and fol-
low me. As my firft appreheniions were
for my canoe, I ran to the water's lide,
and found a party of Indians (for fuch I
now difcovered them to be) on the point
of plundering it. Before I reached them
I commanded my men not to fire till I
had given the w^ord, being unwilling to
begin hoftilities unlefs occafion abfolutely
required. I accordingly advanced with
refoiution, clofe to the points of their
Ipears, they had no other weapons, and
brandifhing
[ 53 ]
brandlfhlng iny hanger, afked them with
a ftern voice, what they wanted. They
were daggered at this, and perceiving
they were like to meet with a warm re-
ception, turned about and precipitately
retreated. We purfued them to an ad-
jacent wood, which they entered, and we
iaw no more of them. However, for
fear of their return, we watched alter-
nately during the remainder of the night.
The next day my fervants were under
great apprehenfions, and earneftly en-
treated me to return to the traders we
had lately left. But I told them, that if
they would not be efteemed old women
(a term of the greateft reproach among
the Indians) they mufl follow me ; for I
was determined to purfue my intended
route, as an Englishman, when once en-
gaged in an adventure, never retreated.
On this they got into the canoe, and I
walked on the Ihore to guard them from
any further attack. The party of In-
dians who had thus intended to plunder
me, I afterwards found to be fome of
thofe ftraggling bands, that having been
driven from among the different tribes to
which they belonged for various crimes,
D 3 now
• [ 54 ]
now affociated themfelves together, and,
living by plunder, prove very trouble-
fome to travellers who pafs this way ; nor
are even Indians of every tribe fpared by
tiiem. The traders had before cautioned
me to be upon my guard againll: them,
and I would repeat the fame caution to
thole whofe bulinefs might call them into
thefe parts.
On the firft of November I arrived
at Lake Pepin, which is rather an ex-
tended part of the River Miffiilippi, that
the French have thus denominated, about
two hundred miles from the Ouifcon-
Im. The Mifiiffippi below this Lake
flows with a gentle current, but the
breadth of it is very uncertain, in fome
places it being upwards of a mile, in
others not more than a quarter. This
River has a range of mountains on each
lide throughout the whole of the way ;
which in particular parts approach near
to it, in others lie at a greater diflance.
The land betwixt the mountains, and
on their lides, is generally covered with
grafs with a few groves of trees inter-
Iperled, near which large droves of deer
and elk are frequently f^Qii feeding. Iii
many
f 55 ]
many places pyramids of rocks appeared,
relembling old ruinous towers; at others
amaziiig precipices ; and what is very re-
markable, whilfl: this fcene prefented it-
fclf on one fide, the oppofite fide of the
fiime mountain was covered with the
finefl: herbage, which gradually afcended
to its fummit. From thence the moft
beautiful and extenlive profpecSt that ima-
gination can form opens to your view.
Verdant plains, fruitful meadows, nume-
rous iflands, and all thefe abounding with
a variety of trees that yield amazing
quantities of fruit, without care or cul-
tivation, fuch as the nut-tree, the maple
which produces fugar, vines loaded with
rich grapes, and plum-trees bending un-
der their blooming burdens, but above
all, the fine River flowing gently beneath,
and reaching as far as the eye can extend,
by turns attract your admiration and excite
your wonder.
The Lake is about twenty miles long
and near {ix in breadth ; in fome places
it is very deep, and abounds with various
kinds of fifli. Great numbers of fowl
frequent alfo this Lake and rivers adjacent,
fuch as florks, fwans, geefe, brants, and
D 4 ducks ;
[ 56 ]
ducks : and in the groves are found great
plenty of turkeys and partridges. On the
plahis are the largeft buffaloes of any in
America. Here I obferved the ruins of a
French faftory, where it is faid Captain
St. Pierre refided, and carried on a very
great trade with the Naudoweffies, before
the reduction of Canada.
About fixty miles below this Lake is
a mountain remarkably lituatcd ; for it
ftands by itfelf exadly in the middle of
the River, and looks as if it had flidden
from the adjacent fhore into the flream.
It cannot be termed an iiland, as it rifes
immediately from the brink of the water
to a confiderable height. Both the In-
dians and the French cal^ it the Mountain
in the River.
One day having landed on the fhore of
the Miffifiippi, fome miles below Lake
Pepin, whilft my attendants were pre-
paring iTiy dinner, I walked out to take
a view of the adjacent country. I had
not proceeded far, before I came to a
fine, level, open plain, on which I per-
ceived at a little diftance, a partial ele-
vation that had the appearance of an in-
trenchme]it. On a nearer infpedion I
had
[ 57 1
had greater reafon to fuppofe that it had
really been intended for this many cen-
turies ago. Notwithftanding it was now
covered with grafs, I could plainly dif-
cern that it had once been a breaft-work
of about four feet in height, extending
the befl part of a mile, and fufficiently ca-
pacious to cover five thoufand men. Its
form was fomewhat circular, and its flanks
reached to the River. Though much de-
faced by time, every angle was diflinguifli-
able, and appeared as regular, and fafhion-
ed with as much military Ikill, as if plan-
ned byVauban himfelf. The ditch was
not viiible, but I thought on examining
more curioufly, that I could perceive
there certainly had been one. From its
fituation alfo, I am convinced that it
muft have been defigned for this purpofe.
It fronted the country, and the rear was
covered by the River ; nor was there any
rifing ground for a conliderable way that
commanded it ; a few ftraggling oakf
were alone to be feen near it. In many
places fmall tracks were worn acrofs it
by the feet of the elks and deer, and
from the depth of the bed of earth by
which it was covered, I was able to draw
certain
[ 58 ]
^faiii conclufions of its great antiquity.
I examined all the angles and every part
-with, great attention, and have often
blamed myfelf iince, for not encamping
on the fpot, and drawing an exad plan of
it. To fhew that this deicrlption is not
the offspring of a heated imagination, or
the chimerical tale of a miftaken travel-
ler, I find on enquiry hnce my return,
that Monf. St. Pierre and feveral traders
have, at different times, taken notice of
fimllar appearances, on which they have
formed the fame conjectures, but without
examining them fo minutely a^ I did.
How a work of this kind could exifl in
a country that has hitherto (according to
the general received opinion) been the
feat of war to untutored Indians alone,
whofe whole ftock of military knowledge
has only, till within two centuries, a-
mounted to drawing the bow, and whofe
only breafl-work even at prefent is the
|hicket, I know not. I have given as
exa6l an account as pofUble of this fin-
gular appearance, and leave to future ex-
plorers of thefe diffcant regions to dif-
cover whether it is a production of na-
ture or art. Perhaps the hints I have
here
t 59 ]
here given might lead to a more perfe6l
InveftigatioQ of it, and give us very dif-
ferent ideas of the ancient ftate of realms
that we at prefent believe to have been
from the earlieft period only the habita-
tions of lavages.
The Miiiiilippi, as far as the en-
trance of the River St. Croix, thirty miles
above Lake Pepin, is very full of iflands;
fome of which are of a coniiderable
length. On thefe, alfo, grow great num-
bers of the maple or fugar tree, and
around them vines loaded with grapes
creeping to their very tops. From the
Lake upwards few mountains are to be
feen, and thofe but fmall. Near the Ri-
ver St. Croix refide three bands of the
Nawdoweffie Indians, called the River
Bands.
This nation is compofed, at prefent,
of eleven bands. They were originally
twelve ; but the Affinipoils fome years
ago revolting, and feparating themielves
from the others, there remain only at
this time eleven. Thofe I met here are
termed the River Bands ; becaufe they
chiefly dwell near the banks of this Ri-
ver : the other eight are generally dif-
tinguilhed
[ 6o ]
tingninicd by the title of the Naudowcfiies
of the Plains, and inhabit a country that
lies more to the weftward. The names
of the former are the Nehogatawonahs,
the Mawtawbauntowahs, and the Shahf-^
weentowahs, and confill of about four
hundred warriors.
A little before I met with thefe three
bands I fell in with a party of the Maw-
tawbauntowahs, amounting to forty war-^
riors and their families. With thefe I
refided a day or two, during which time
live or fix of their number, who had been
out on an excurlion, returned in great
hafte, and acquainted their companions
that a large party of the Chipeway war-
riors, " enough," as they expreffed them-
felves, " to fwailow them all up," were
clofe at their heels, and on the point of
attacking their little camp. The chiefs
applied to me, and defu'ed I would put
myfslf at their head, and lead them out
to oppofe their enemies. As I was a
ftranger, and unwilling to excite the an-
ger of either nation, I knew not how to
acl ; and never found myfelf in a greater
dilemma. Had I refufed to affill the
Naudoweffies I fhould have drawn on
myfelf
[ 6i ]
niyfelf their dilpleafure, or had I met
the Chlpcwajs with hoflile intentions, I
fliould have made that people my foes,
and had I heen fortunate enough to have
efcaped their arrows at this time, on {oiuq
future occafion fhould prohahly have expe-
rienced tiie feverity of their revenge. In
this extremity I chofe the middle courfe,
and defired that the Naudoweflies would
fufFer me to meet them, that I might en-
deavour to avert their fury. To this they
reludtantly affented, being perfuaded, from
the inveteracy which had long prevailed
between them, that my remonftrances
would be in vain.
Taking my Frenchman with me, who
could {peak their language, 1 haftened
towards the place where the Chipeways
were fuppofed to be. The Naudoweffies
during this kept at a diftance behind. As
I approached them with the pipe of peace,
a Imall party of their chiefs, conlifting
of about eight or ten, came in a friend-
ly manner towards me ; with whom, by
means of my interpreter, I held a long
converfation ; the refult of which was,
that their rancour being 1/ my per-
iuafions in fome mealure mollified, they
agreed
[ 62 ]
agreed to return back without accomplifh.-^
ing their favage purpofes. During our dif*
courfe I could perceive, as they lay fcat-
tered about, that the party was very nu-
merous, and many of them armed with
mufkets.
Having happily fucceeded in my un-
dertaking, I returned without delay to
the Naudoweffies, and deiired they would
inftantly remove their camp to fome other
part of the country, left their enemies
ihould repent of the promife they had
given, and put their intentions in exe-
cution. They accordingly followed my
advice, and immediately prepared to ftrike
their tents. Whilft they were doing this
they loaded me with thanks ; and when
I had feen them on board their canoes I
purfued my route.
To this adventure I was chiefly indebt-
ed for the friendly reception I afterwards
met with from the Naudoweffies of the
Plains, and for the refpedl and honours I
received during my abode among them.
And when I arrived many months after
at the Chipeway village, near the Otto-
waw lakes, I found that my fame had
reached that place before mc. The chiefs
received
[ 63 ]
recived me with great cordiality, and
the elder part of them thanked me for
the mifchief I had prevented. They in-
formed me, that the war between their
nation and the Naudoweffies had conti-
nued without interruption for more than
forty winters. That they had long wifhed
to put an end to it, but this was gene-
rally prevented by the young warriors of
either nation, who could not reftrain their
ardour when they met. They fald, they
ihould be happy if feme chief of the
lame pacific dilpofition as myfelf, and who
poflefied an equal degree of refolution and
coolnefs, would fettle in the country be-
tween the two nations ; for by the inter-
ference of fuch a perfon an accommodation,
which on their parts they fincerely defir-
ed, might be brought about. As Ijdid
not meet any of the Naudoweffies after-
w^ards, I had not an opportunity of for-
w^arding fo good a work.
About thirty miles below the Falls of
St. Anthony, at which I arrived the tenth
day after I left left Lake Pepin, is a re-
markable cave of an amazing depth. The
Indians term it Wakon-teebe, that is,
the Dwelling of the Great Spirit. The
entrance
[ 64 ]
entrance into it is about ten feet wide,
the height of it five feet. The arch
within is near fifteen feet high and about
thirty feet broad. The bottom of it con-
fifts of fine clear fand. About twenty
feet from the entrance begins a lake, the
water of which is tranfparent, and ex-
tends to an unfearchable diftance ; for
the darknefs of the cave prevents all at-
tempts to acquire a knowledge of it. I
threw a fmall pebble towards the interior
parts of it with my utmoft ftrength ; I
could hear that it fell into the water,
and notwithftanding it was of fo fmall a
fize, it caufed an aftonifhing and horrible
noife that reverberated through all thofe
gloomy regions. I found in this cave
many Indian hieroglyphicks, which ap-
peared very ancient, for time had nearly
covered them with mofs, fo that it was
with difficulty 1 could trace them. They
were cut in a rude manner upon the in-
fide of the walls, which were compofed
of a ftone fo extremely foft that it might
be eafily penetrated with a knife : a
ftone every where to be found near the
Miffiifippi. The cave is only acceffible
by
[ 65 ]
by afcending a narrow, il:eep paffage that
lies near the brink of the river.
At a little diftance from this dreary
cavern is the bnrylng-place of feveral
bands of the Naudoweflie Indians : though
thefe people have no fixed refidence, living
in tents, and abiding but a few months
on one fpot, yet they always bring the
bones of their dead to this place ; which
they take the opportunity of doing when
the chiefs meet to hold their councils,
and to fettle all public affairs for the en-
fuing fumrner.
Ten miles below the Falls of St. An-
thony the River St. Pierre, called by the
natives the Waddapawmenefotor, falls into
the Miffiffippi from the v/eft. It is not
mentioned by Father Hennipin, although
a large fair river: this omiffion, I con-
clude, muft have proceeded from a fmall
ifland that is iituated exadly at its en-
trance, by which the fight of it is inter-
cepted. I fhould not have difcovered this
river myfelf, had I not taken a view,
when I was fearching for it, from the
high lands oppolite, which rife to a great
height.
E Nearly
- [ 66 ]
Nearly over againfl this river I was
obliged to leave my canoe, on account of
the ice, and travel by land to the Falls
of St. Anthony, where I arrived on the
I 7th of November. The Miffiflippi from
the St. Pierre to this place is rather more
rapid than I had hitherto found it, and
without iflands of any confideration.
Before I left my canoe I overtook a
young prince of the Winnebago Indians,
who was going on an embafly to fbme of
the bands of the Naudoweflies. Finding
that I intended to take a view of the Falls,
he agreed to accompany me, his curiofity
having been often excited by the accounts
he had received from fome of his chiefs:
he accordingly left his family (for the
Indians never travel without their houfe-
holds) at this place, under the care of my
Mohawk fervant, and we proceeded to-
gether by land, attended only by my
Frenchman, to this celebrated place.
We could diflindly hear the noife of
the water full fifteen miles before we
reached the Falls ; and I was greatly pleafed
and furprized, when I approached this
afloniihing work of nature: but I was
not long at liberty to indulge thefe emo-
tion^.
[ 67 ]
tions, my attention being called off by the
behaviour of my companion.
The prince had no fooner gained the
point that overlooks this wonderful caf-
cade, than he began with an audible voice
to addrefs the Great Spirit, one of whofe
places of refidence he imagined this to be.
He told him that he had come a long way
to pay his adorations to him, and now
would make him the bed offerings in his
power. He accordingly firft threw his
pipe into the flream; then the roll that
contained his tobacco; after thefe, the
bracelets he wore on his arms and wrifts;
next an ornament that encircled his neck,
compofed of beads and wires ; and at lafl:
the ear-rings from his ears ; in fliort, he
prefented to his god every part of his drefs
that was valuable : during this he fre-
quently fmote his breafl: v/ith great vio-
lence, threw his arms about, and appear-
ed to be much agitated.
All this while he continued his adora-
tions, and at length concluded them with
fervent petitions that the Great Spirit would
conftantly afford us his protedlion on our
travels, giving us a bright fun, a blue fky,
and clear untroubled waters : nor would he
E 2 leave
[ 68 ]
leave the place till we had fmoaked to-
gether with my pipe in honour of the
Great Spirit.
I was greatly furprized at beholding an
inftance of fuch elevated devotion in fo
young an Indian, and inflead of ridicul-
ing the ceremonies attending it, as I ob-
ferved my catholic fervant tacitly did, I
looked on the prince with a greater degree
of refpecfl; for thefe fincere proofs he gave
of his piety; and I doubt not but that
his offerings and prayers were as accept-
able to the univerfal Parent of mankind,
as if they had been made with greater
pomp, or in a confecrated place.
Indeed, the whole condudl of this young
prince at once amazed and charmed me.
During the few days we were together his
attention feemed totally to be employed in
yielding me every affiiiance in his power;
and even in io fliort a time he gave me
innumerable proofs of the moil generous
and difintereiled friendfhip; fo that on
our return I parted from him with great
reluctance. Whilil I beheld the artlefs,
yet engaging manners of this unpolifhed
lavage, 1 could not help drawing a com-
l^arifon between him and fomc of the more
refined
[ 69 ]
refined inhabitants of civilized countries,
not much, I own, in favour of the latter.
The Falls of St. Anthony received
their name from Father Louis Hennipin,
a French miffionary, who travelled into
thefe parts about the year 1680, and was
the firfl: European ever feen by the na-
tives. This amazing body of waters,
which are above 250 yards over, form a
mod plealing cataradl; they fall perpen-
dicularly about thirty feet, and the rapids
below, in the fpace of 300 yards more,
render the defcent confiderably greater; fo
that when viewed at a diftance they ap-
pear to be much higher than they really
are. The above-mentioned traveller has
laid them down at above (ixty feet; but
he has made a greater error in calculating
the height of the Falls of Niagara; which
he afferts to be 600 feet ; whereas from
latter obfervations accurately made, it is
well known that it does not exceed i 40
feet. But the good father I fear too of-
ten had no other foundation for his ac-
counts than report, or, at befl, a (light
inipe£lion.
In the middle of the Falls ftands a
fmall ifland, about forty feet broad and
E 3 fome-
[ 7^ ]
fomewhat longer, on which grow a few
cragged hemlock and fpruce trees ; and
about half way between this ifland and
the eadern fiiore is a rock, lying at the
very edge of the Fall, in an oblique por-
tion, that appeared to be about five or fix
feet broad, and thirty or forty long. Thefe
Falls vary much from all the others I have
feen, as you may approach clofe to them
without finding the leaft obfl:ru6tion from
any intervening hill or precipice.
The country around them is extremely
beautiful. It is not an uninterrupted plain
where the eye finds no relief, but compo-
fed of many gentle afcents, which in the
fummer are covered with the fineft ver-
dure, and interfperfed with little groves,
that give a pleafing variety to the profpedt.
On the whole, when the Falls are inclu-
ded, which may be feen at the diftance of
four miles, a more pleafing and pi^lurefque
view cannot, I believe, be found through-
out the univerfe. I could have wiflied
that I had happened to enjoy this glorious
fight at a more feafonable time of the
year, whilfl: the trees and hillocks were
clad in nature's gayeft livery, as this mufl
have greatly added to the pleafure I re^
ceived ;
ii"/»)ii'iw"ffliii«i'*n 1 i
11*
ii
[ 71 ]
celved ; however, even then it exceeded
my warmefl: expe(5lations. I have en-
deavoured to give the Reader as juft an
idea of this enchanting fpot as poflible,
in the plan annexed; but all defcription,
whether of the pencil or the pen, mufl
fall infinitely fhort of the original.
At a little dlftance below the Falls
ftands a fmall ifland, of about an acre and
half, on which grow a great number of
oak trees, every branch of which, able to
fupport the weight, was full of eagles
nefts. The reafon that this kind of birds
refort in fuch numbers to this Ipot, is
that they are here fecure from the attacks
either of man or beafl:, their retreat being
guarded by the Rapids, which the Indians
never attempt to pafs. Another reafon
is, that they find a conflant fupply of
food for themfelves and their young, from
the animals and fifh which are dalhed to
pieces by the Falls, and driven on the ad-
jacent fhore.
Having fatisfied my curiofity, as far as
the eye of man can be fatisfied, I pro-
ceeded on, flill accompanied by my young
friend, till I had reached the River St.
Francis, near fixty miles above the Fall>.
E 4 To
[ 7^ ]
To this river Father Henniplii gave the
name of St. Francis, and this vvas the ex-
tent of his travels, as well as mine, to-
wards the north-weft. As the feafon was
fo advanced, and the weather extremely
cold, I was not able to make fo many ob-
fervations on thefe parts as I other wife
ihoukl have done.
It; might however, perhaps, be necef-
fary to oblerve, that in the little tour I
made about the Falls, after travelling four-
teen miles, by the fide of the MifTifiippi,
1 came to a river nearly twenty yards
wide, which ran from the north-eaft,
called Rum River. And on the 20th of
November came to another termed Goofe
River, about twelve yards wide. On the
2 1 ft I arrived at the St. Francis, which
is about thirty yards wide. Here the
Miffiffippi itfelf grows narrow, being not
more than ninety yards over; and appears
to be chiefly compofed of fmall branches.
The ice prevented me from noticing the
depth of any of thefe three rivers.
The country in fome places is hilly,
but without large mountains; and the land
is tolerably good. I obferved here many
deer and carribboos, fome elk, with abun*
dance
[ 73 J
dance of beavers, otters, and other furs.
A little above this, to the north-eaft, are
a number of Imall lakes called the Thou-
fand Lakes ; the parts about which, though
but little frequented, are the beft within
rnany miles for hunting, as the hunter
never fails of returning loaded beyond his
expedlations.
The Miffillippi has never been explored
higher up than the River St. Francis, and
only by Father Hennipin and myfelf thus
far. So that we are obliged folely to
the Indians, for all the intelligence we
are able to give relative to the more north-
ern parts. As this River is not navigable
from the fea for veffels of any confiderable
burthen, much higher up than the Forks
of the Ohio, and even that is accompliih-
ed with great difficulty, owing to the ra*-
pidity of the current, and the windings
of the river, thofe fettlements that may
be made on the interior branches of it,
muft be indilputably fecure from the at-
tacks of any maritime power. But at
the fame time the fettlers will have the
advantage of being able to convey their
produce to the fea-ports with great faci-
lity, the current of the river from its
fource
[ 74 ]
fource to its entrance into the Gulph of
Mexico, being extremely favourable for
doing this in fmall craft. This might
alfo in time be facilitated by canals or
ihorter cuts ; and a communication open-
ed by water with New York, Canada, &c.
by way of the lakes. The Forks of the
Ohio are about nine hundred miles from
the mouth of the Miiliffippi, following
the courfe of the river; and the Meflbrie
two hundred miles above thefe. From
the latter it is about twenty miles to the
Illinois River, and from that to the Ouif-
confni, which I have given an account of,
about eight hundred more.
On the 25th I returned to my canoe,
which I had left at the mouth of the
River St. Pierre; and here I parted with
regret from my young friend the prince
of the Winnebagoes. This river being
clear of ice by reafon of its fouthern fitu-
ation, I found nothing to obf!:ru6l my
paflage. On the 28 th, being advanced
about forty miles, 1 arrived at a fmall
branch that fell into it from the north ;
to which, as it had no name that I could
diftinguilh it by, I gave my own ; and
the Reader will find it in the plan of my
travels
[ 75 ]
travels denominated Carver's River. About
forty miles higher up I came to the Forks
of Verd and Red Marble Rivers, which
join at fome little diflance before they
enter the St. Pierre.
The River St. Pierre, at its junclion
with the Miffiffippi, is about a hundred
yards broad, and continues that breadth
nearly all the way I failed upon it. It has
a great depth of v/ater, and in fome places
runs very brilkly. About fifty miles from
its mouth are fome rapids, and much
higher up there are many others.
I proceeded up this river about two
hundred miles to the country of the Nau-
dowelfies of the Plains, which lies a little
above the Forks formed by the Verd and
Red Marble Rivers, juft mentioned, where
a branch from the fouth nearly joins the
Meflbrie River. By the accounts I re- '
ceived from the Indians, I have reafon to
believe that the River St. Pierre and the
Meflbrie, though they enter the Mifiif^
fippi twelve hundred miles from each
other, take their rife in the fame neigh-
bourhood ; and this within the fpace of a
mile. The River St. Pierre's northern
branch rifes from a number of lakes near
the
[ 76 ]
the fhlning moimtains; and it is from
fome of thefe, alfo, that a capital branch
of the River Bourbon, which runs into
Hudfon's Bay, has its fources
From the intelhgence I gained from
the Naudowellie Indians, among whom I
arrived the 7th of December, and whole
language I perfcdllj^ acquired during a re-
lidence of five months; and aUb from the
accounts I afterwards obtained from the
Affinipoils, who fpeak the fame tongue,
being a revolted band of the Naudowel-
iies; and from the KilUftinoes, neigh-
bours of the Affinipoils, who fpeak the
Chipeway language, and inhabit the heads
pf the Eiver Bourbon ; I fay from thefe
nations, together with my own obferva-
tions, I have learned that the four moft
^capital rivers on the Continent of North
America, viz. the St. Lawrence, the Mil-
fifiippi, the River Bourbon, and the Ore-
gon or the River of the Weft (as I hinted
in my Introduction) have their fources in
the fame neighbourhood. The waters of
the three former are within thirty miles
of each other; the latter, however, is
rather farther weft.
This
[ 11 ]
This fhews that thefe parts are the
higheft lands in North America; and it
is an inflance not to be paralleled on the
other three quarters of the globe, that four
rivers of fuch magnitude fhould take their
rife together, and each, after running fe-
parate courfes, difcharge their waters into
different oceans at the diftance of two
thoufand miles from their fources. For
in their pafiage from this fpot to the bay
of St. Lawrence, eafl, to the bay of
Mexico, fouth, to Hudfon's Bay, north,
and to the bay at the Straights of Annian,
weft, each of thefe traverfe upwards of
two thoufand miles.
I fhall here give my Readers fuch re-
flexions as occurred to me, when I had
received this interefiing information, and
had, by numberlefs inquiries, afcertained
the truth of it; that is, as far as it was
poffible to arrive at a certainty without a
perlbnal invefrigation.
It is well known that the Colonies,
particularly thofe of New England and
Canada, are greatly afi:e6led, about the
time their winter lets in, by a north- weft
wind, which continues for feveral months,
and renders the cold much more intenle
there
[ 78 ]
there than it is in the interior parts of
America. This I can, from my own
knowledge, aflert, as I found the winter,
that I paffed to the weftward of the Mif-
fiffippi, far from fevere; and the north-
weft wind blowing on thofe countries con-
llderably more temperate than I have often
experienced it to be nearer the coaft.
And that this did not arife from an un-
certainty of the feafons, but was annu-
ally the cafe, I conclude, both from the
fmall quantity of fnow that then fell, and
a total difufe of fnow fhoes by thefe In-
dians, without which none of the more
eaftern ■ nations can poffibly travel during
the winter.
As naturalifts obferve, that air refem-
bles water in many refpeds, particularly
by often flowing in a compacft body ; and
that this is generally remarked to be with
the current of large ftreams, and feldom
acrois them, may not the winds that fet
violently into the Bay of Mexico about
the latter end of the year, take their courfe
over the continent in the fame direftion
as the Miifiirippi does ; till meeting with
the north winds (that from a fimilar
caufe blow up the Bourbon from Hud-
fon's
t 79 ]
ion's Bay) they are forced acrofs the great
lakes, down the current of the waters
of the St. Lawrence, and united, com-
mit thofe ravages, and occafion thofe fe-
vere winters, experienced in the before-
mentioned countries? During their prc-
grefs over the lakes they become expand-
ed, and confequently affedl a greater tra6l
of land than they otherwife would do.
According to my fcanty knowledge of
natural philofophy this does not appear
improbable. Whether it is agreeable to
the laws eftabliilied by naturalifls to ac-
count for the operations of that element,
1 know not. However, the defcription
here given of the lituation of thefe vafl:
bodies of water, and their near approach
to each other, with my own undigefted
fuppofitions of their efFecl on the winds,
may prove perhaps, in abler hands, the
means of leading to many ufeful difco-
veries.
On the 7th of December, I arrived
(as I faid before) at the utmofl: extent of
my travels towards the weft; where I
met with a large party of tlie Naudowef-
iie Indians, among whom I refided {&vea
months. Thefe conftituted a part of the
eight
[ 8o ]
eight bands of the Naudoweflies of the
Plains ; and are termed the Wawpeen-
tovvahs, the Tintoiis, the Afrahcootans,
the Mawhaws, and the Schians. The
other three bands, whofe names are the
Schianefe, the Chongoufceton, and the
Waddapawjeflin, dwell higher up, to
the weft of the River St. Pierre, on plains
that, according to their account, are un-
bounded ; and probably terminate on the
coaft of the Pacific Ocean. The Nau-
doweffie nation, when united, confifts of
more than two thbufand w^arriors. The
Affinipoils, who revolted from them,
smount to about three hundred ; and
leagued with the Killiftinoes, live in a
continual ftate of enmity with the other
eleven bands.
As I proceeded up the River St. Pierre,
and had nearly reached the place where
thefe people were encamped, I obferved
two or three canoes coming down the
ftream; but no fooner had the Indians
that were on board them difcovered us,
than they rowed toward the land, and
leaping afhore with precipitation, left
their canoes to float as the current drove
them. In a few minutes I perceived
fome
t 8, ]
fome others ; who, as foon as they came
in fight, followed, with equal fpeed, the
example of their countrymen.
I now thought it neceflary to proceed
with caution ; and therefore kept on the
lide of the river oppoiite to that on
which the Indians had landed. How-
ever, I ftill continued my courfe, fatif-
fied that the pipe of Peace which was
fixed at the head of my canoe, and the
Englifh colours that were flying at the
ftern, would prove my fecurity. After
rowing about half a mile farther, in turn-
ing a point, I difcovered a great number
of tents, and more than a thoufand In-
dians, at a little diflance from the fliore.
Being now nearly oppoiite to them, I or-
dered my men to pull directly over, as I
was willing to convince the Indians by
fuch a ftep, that I placed fome confidence
in them.
As foon as I had reached the land, two
of the chiefs prefented their hands to me,
and led me, amidft the aftonifhed mul-
titude, who had moil: of them never feen
a white man before, to a tent. Into this
We entered, and according to the cuilom
that univerfally prevails among every In-
F dian
[ 82 ]
dlan nation, began to fmoke the pipe of
Peace. We had not fat long before the
crowd became fo great, both around, and
upon the tent, that we were in danger of
being cruflied by its fall. On this we
returned to the plain, where, having grati-
fied the curiofity of the common people,
their wonder abated, and ever after they
treated me with great refpccl.
From the chiefs I met with the moil
friendly and hofpitable reception ; which
induced me, as tlie feaion was fo far ad-
vanced, to take up my refidence among
them during the winter. To render my
flay as comfortable as poilible, I firfl endea-
voured to learn their lano;ua2:e. This I loon
did, fo as to make myielf perfectly intel-
ligible, having before acquired fome flight
knowledge of the language of thofe Indians
that live on the back of the iettlements ;
and in conlequence met with every accom-
modation their manner of living would af-
ford. Nor did i want for fuch amufe-
ments as tended to make io long a period
pals cheerfully away. 1 frequently hunted
with them ; and at other times beheld with
pleafure their recreations and paflimes,
which 1 (hall defcribe hereafter.
Some-
[ 83 ]
Sometimes I fat with the chiefs, and
whilft we fmoked the friendly pipe, en-
tertained them, in return for the accounts
they gave me of their wars and excurfions,
with a narrative of my own adventures
and a defcription of all the battles fought
between the Englifh and the French in
America, in many of which I had a per-
fonnl fhare. They always paid great at-
tention to my details, and afked many per-
tinent queftions relative to the European
methods of making war.
I held thefe converfations with them In
a great meafure to procure from them
Ibme information relative to the chief
point 1 had conftantly in view, that of
gaining a knowledge of the fituation and
produce, both of their own country, and
thofe that lay to the weftward of them.
Nor was I difappointed in my deligns ;
for I procured from them much ufeful
intelligence. They likewife drew for me
plans of all the countries with which
they wevQ acquainted ; but as I enter-
tained no great opinion of their geogra-
phical knowledge, I placed not much de-
pendence on them, and therefore think it
unneceiTary co give them to the public,
F 2 Such
[ 84 ]
Such as I afterwards found confirmed, by
other accounts, or by my own obferva-
tions, make a part of the map prefixed to
this work. They draw with a piece of
burnt coal, taken from the hearth, upon
the infide bark of the birch tree ; which is
as fmooth as paper, and anfwers the fame
purpofes, notwithftanding it is of a yel-
low caft. Their Iketches are made in a
rude manner, but they leem to give as juft
an idea of a country, although the plan is
not fo exa6l, as more experienced draughtf-
men could do.
I left the habitations of thefe hofpi-
table Indians the latter end of April i 767;
but did not part from them for feveral
days, as I was accompanied on my jour-
ney by near three hundred of them, among
v/hom were many chiefs, to the mouth
of the River St. Pierre. At this feafon,
thefe bands annually go to the Great Cave,
before mentioned, to hold a grand coun-
cil with all the other bands ; wherein
they fettle their operations for the enfuing
year. At the fame time they carry with
them their dead for interment bound up in
buffaloes Ikins. Belides thofe that accom-
panied
[ 85 ]
panied me, others were gone before, and
the reft were to follow.
Never did I travel with fo cheerful and
happy a company. But their mirth met
with a ludden and temporary allay from a
violent ftorm that overtook us one day
on our paflage. We had juft landed, and
were preparing to fet up our tents for the
night, when a heavy cloud overfpread the
heavens, and the moft dreadful thunder,
lightning, and rain iffued from it, that
ever I beheld.
The Indians were greatly terrified, and
ran to fuch flielter as they could find ;
for only a few tents were as yet ere£ted.
Apprehenfive of the danger that might
enfue from {landing near any thing which
could ferv^e for a condu6lor, as the cloud
appeared to contain fuch an uncommon
quantity of the ele£lrical fluid, I took my
{land as far as poflible from any covering;
chufing rather to be expofed to the pelt-
ings of the ftorm than to receive a fatal
flroke. At this the Indians were greatly
furprized, and drew conclufions from it
not unfavourable to the opinion they al-
ready entertained of my refolution. Yet
I acknowledge that I was never more
F 3 affeded
[ 86 ]
affe£led in my life ; for nothing fcarcely
could exceed the terrific fcene. The
peals of thunder were lo loud that they
ihook the earth ; and the lightning flafh-
ed along the ground in ftreams of fulphur;
fo that the Indian chiefs themfelves, al-
though their courage in war is ufually in-
vincible, could not help trembling at the
horrid combuftion. As foon as the florm
was over, they flocked around me, and
informed me, that it was a proof of the
anger of the evil fplrits, whom they were
apprehenfive that they had highly of-
fended.
When we arrived at the Great Cave,
and the Indians had depofited the re-
mains of their deceafed friends in the
burial-place that ftands adjacent to it,
they held their great council, into which
I was admitted, and at the fame time had
the honour to be inflalled or adopted a
chief of their bands. On this occafioii
I made the following fpcech, which I in-
fert to give my Readers a fpecimen of
the language and manner in which it is
iieceflary to addrefs the Indians, fo as to
engage their attention, and to render the
Speaker's expreflions confonant to their
ideas.
[ 8? ]
ideas. It was delivered on the firfl (hy of
May 1767.
" My brothers, clilefs of the nume-
rous and powerful Naudowe/lies ! I re-
joice that through my long abode with
you, 1 can now fjpeak to you (though
after an imper fe6l manner) in your
own tongue, like one of your own
children. 1 rejoice alio that I have
had an opportunity fo frequently to in-
form you of the glory and power of
the Great King that reigns over the
Englifh and other nations ; who is de-
fcended from a very ancient race of
fovereigns, as old as the earth and wa-
ters ; whofe feet fland on two great
iflands, larger than any you have ever
feen, amidd the greateft waters in the
world ; whofe head reaches to the fun,
and whofe arms encircle the whole
earth. The number of whofe warriors
are equal to the trees in the vallies,
the ftalks of rice in yonder marfhes,
or the blades of grafs on your great
plains. Who has hundreds of canoes of
his own, of fuch amazing bigitfs, that
all the waters in your country would
not fuffice for one of them to fwim
F 4 "in;
[ 88 1
*' in ; each of which have guns, not
" fmall Uke mine which you fee before
" you, but of fuch magnitude, that a
" hundred of your fiiouteft young men
'* would with difficulty be able to carry
*•*- one. And thefe are equally furprizing
" in their operation againft the great
" king's enemies when engaged in battle;
" the terror they carry with them your
" language wants words to exprefs. You
*' may remember the other day when we
*' were encamping at Wadawpawmene-
*' foter, the black clouds, the wind, the
" fire, the ftupendous noife, the horrible
" cracks, and the trembling of the earth
*' which then alarmed you, and gave you
" reafon to think your gods were angry
** with you ; not unlike thele are the war-
" like implements of the Englifli when
" they are fighting the battles of their
" great King.
" Several of the chiefs of your bands
" have often told me, in times pail:,
" when I dwelt with you in your tents,
*' that they much wifhed to be counted
'* among the children and allies of the
" great King my mafler. You may re-
" member how often you have defired
" me.
[ 89 ]
'* me, when I return again to my own
" country, to acquaint the great King
** of your good difpofition towards him
*' and his fubjecls, and that you wifhed
** for traders from the Englifh to come
*' among you. Being now about to take
*' my leave of you, and to I'eturn to my
" own country, a long way towards
" the rifing fun, I again afk you to tell
" me whether you coiitinue of the fame
*' mind as when I fpoke to you in coun-
" cil lafh winter ; and as there are now
" feveral of your chiefs here, who came
" from the great plains towards the fet-
*' ting of the fun, whom I have never
" fpoke with in council before, I alk you
" to let me know if you are all will-
*' ing to acknowledge yourfelves the chil-
" dren of my great mafter the King of
'' the Englifh and other nations, as I
" fhall take the firft opportunity to ac-
** quaint him of your dehres and good
" intentions. I charge you not to give
" heed to bad reports ; for there are
'* wicked birds flying about among the
" neighbouring nations, who may whif-
*' per evil things in your ears againfh the
" Engiifli, contrary to what I have told
" you ;
[ 9^ ]
** you ; you muft not believe them, for I
" have told you the truth.
'* And as for the chiefs that are about
*' to go to Michillimackniac, I fball take
** care to make for them and their fuite,
*^ a llraight road, fmooth waters, and a
'* clear iky *, that they m^.v go there,
*' and fmoke the pipe of Peace, and reft
" fecure on a beaver blanket under the
*' fhade of the great tree of peace. Farc-
*' well 1"
To this fpeech I received the following
anfwer, from the mouth of the principal
chief:
*' Good brother ! I am now about to
*' fpeak to you with the mouths of thefe
*' my brothers, chiefs of the eight bands
*' of the powerful nation of the Nau-
'^ doweffies. We believe and are well
*' fatished in the truth of every thing
*' you have told us about your great na-
*' tion, and the Great King our greateft
^^ father ; for whom we Ipread this beaver
*■' blanket, that his fatherly protecllon
*-' mav ever reft eafv and lafe amonoft us
'' his children : your colours and your
*-' arms agree with the accounts you have
*' given us about your great nation. We
" defire
[ 9« 1
defire that when you return, you will
acquaint the Great King how much the
Naudoweffies wifti to be counted among
his good children. You may believe
us when we tell you that we will not
open our ears to any who may dare to
fpeak evil of our Great Father the King
of the Engllfh and other nations.
" We thank you for what you have
done for us in making peace between
the Naudoweffies and the Chipeways,
and hope when you return to us again,
that you will complete this good work;
and quite difpelling the clouds that in-
tervene, open the blue iky of peace,
and caufe the bloody hatchet to be deep
buried under the roots of the great tree
of peace.
" We wifh you to remember to repre-
fent to our Great Father, how much
we defire that traders may be fent to
abide among us, with fuch things as
we need, that the hearts of our young
men, our wives, and children may be
made glad. And may peace fublifl: be-
tween us, fo long as the fun, the moon,
the earth, and the waters fhall endure.
Farewell."
I thought
[ 92 ]
I thought it neceflary to caution the
Indians againft giving heed to any bad
reports that may reach them from the
neighbouring nations to the difadvantage
of the Englilh, as I had heard, at different
places through which I paffed, that emif-
faries were ftill employed by the French
to detach thofe who were friendly to the
EngiiOi from their interell. And I faw,
myfelf, feveral belts of Wampum that
bad been delivered for this purpofe to
fome of the tribes I was among. On the
delivery of each of thefe a Talk was held,
wherein the Indians were told that the
Englifh, who were but a petty people,
had ftolen that country from their Great
Father the king of France whilfl he was
afieep ; but that he would loon awake,
and take them again under his protedion.
Thefe 1 found were fent from Canada by
perfons who appeared to be well afFe£led
towards the government under which they
lived.
Whilfl I tarried at the mouth of the
River St. Pierre with thefe friendly In-
dians, I endeavoured to gain intelligence
whether any goods had been fent towards
the Falls of St. Anthony for my ufe, agree-
able
r 93 1
able to the promlfe I had received from
the governor when I left Michillimac-
kinac. But finding from fome Indians,
who pafl'ed by in their return from tliofe
parts, that this agreement had not been
fulfilled, I was obliged to give up all
thougiits of proceeding farther to the
north-weft by this route, according to my
original plan. I therefore returned to La
Prairie le Chien, where I procured as many
goods from the traders I left there the
preceding year as they could Ipare.
As thefe however were not fufficlent to
enable me to renew my firfl defign, I de-
termined to endeavour to make my way
acrofs the country of the Chipeways to
Lake Superior ; in hopes of meeting at
the Grand Portage on the north fide of it,
the traders that annually go from Michil-
limackinac to the north-weft ; of whom I
doubted not but that I fhould be able to
procure goods enough to anfvver my pur-
pofe, and ahb to penetrate through thofe
more northern parts to the Straights of
Annian.
And I the more readily returned to
La Prairie le Chien, as I could by that
means the better fulfil the enp-agement I
had
[ 94 ]
had made to the party of Naudovveffies
mentioned at the conclufion of my fpeech.
During my abode with this people, wifh-
ing to fecure them entirely in the interefl
of the Englifh, I had advifed fome of the
chiefs to go to Michillimackinac, where
they would have an opportunity of trad-
ing, and of hearing the accounts that I had
entertained them with of my countrymen
confirmed. At the fame time I had fur-
niflied them with a recommendation to the
governor, and given them every dire(5lion
neceflary for their voyage.
In confequence of this one of the prin-
cipal chiefs, and twenty-five of an inferior
rank, agreed to go the enfuing fummer.
This they took an opportunity of doing
when they came with the reft of their
band to attend the grand council at the
mouth of the River St. Pierre. Being
obliged, on account of the difappointment
I had juft been informed of, to return fo
far down the Mifliilippi, I could from
thence the more eafily fet them on their
journey.
As the intermediate parts of this river
are much frequented by the Chipeways,
with whom the Naudowellies are conti-
nually
• t 9S 1
nually at war, they thought It more pru-
dent, behig but a fmall party, to take the
advantage of the night, than to travel with
me by day ; accordingly no fooner was the
grand council broke up, than I took a
friendly leave of thefe people, from whom
I had received innumerable civilities, and
purfued once more my voyage.
I reached the eailern iide of Lake Pepin
the fame night, where I went afliore
and encamped as ufuaL The next morn-
ing, when I had proceeded fome miles
farther, I perceived at a diftance before
me a Imoke, which denoted that fome In-
dians were near ; and in a fliort time dif-
covered ten or twelve tents not far from
the bank of the river. As I was ap-
prehenfive that this was a party of the
Rovers I had before met with, I knew
not what courfe to purfue. My attend-
ants perfuaded me to endeavour to pafs by
them on the oppofite fide of the river ;
but as I had hitherto found that the bed
way to enfure a friendly reception from
the Indians is to meet them boldly, and
without fliewing any tokens of fear, I
would by no means confent to their pro-
pofal. Inflead of this I crofTed directly
over,
[ 96 ]
over, and landed in the midft of them, for
by this time the greateft part of them were
landing on the ihore.
The firfl I accofted were Chippeways
inhabiting near the Ottowaw lakes ; who
received me with great cordiality, and
fhook me by the hand in token of friend-
Ihip. At fome little diftance behind thefe
flood a chief remarkably tall and well
made, but of fo ftern an afpe6l that the
moft undaunted perfon could not behold
him without feeling fome degree of terror.
He feemed to have pafied the meridian of
life, and by the mode in which he was
painted and tatowed, I difcovered that he
was of high rank. However, I approached
him in a courteous manner, and expelled
to have met with the fame reception I had
done from the others : but to my great
furprize he wlth-held his hand, and look-
ing fiercely at me, faid in the Chipeway
tongue, " Cawin nifhifhin faganofli,'*
that is, *' The Englifh are no good." As
he had his tomahawk in his hand, I ex-
pe<Sled that this laconick fentence would
have been followed by a blow ; to pre-
vent which I drew a piftol from my belt,
and, holding it in a carelefs polition,
palled
[ 97 ]
jiafled clofe by him, to let him fee I was
not afraid of him.
I learned fooii after from the other In-
dians, that this was a chief, called by the
French the Grand Sautor, or the Great
Chipeway Chief, for they denominate the
Chipeways Sautors. They likewife told
me that he had been always a fleady
friend to that people, and when they deli-
vered up Michillimackinac to the EngliOi
on their evacuation of Canada, the Grand
Sautor had fworn that he would ever re-
main the avowed enemy of its new poflef-
fors, as the territories on which the fort is
built belonged to him.
Finding him thus difpofed, I took care
to be conflantly upon my guard whilft
I ftaid ; but that he might not fuppofe I
was driven away by his frowns, I took
up my abode there for the night. I pitch-
ed my tent at fome diftance from the In-
dians, and had no fooner laid mylelf
down to reft, than I was awakened by my
French fervant. Having been alarmed by
the found of Indian mufic, he had run
to the outfide of the tent, where he be-
held a party of the young favages dancing
towards us in an extraordinary manner,
G . each
[ 98 ]
each carrying In his hand a torch fixed on
the top of a long pole. But I fhall de-
fer any further account of this uncom-
mon entertainment, which at once fur-
prized and alarmed me, till I treat of the
Indian dances.
The next morning I continued my voy-
age, and before night reached La Prairie
le Chien ; at which place the party of
Naudoweffies foon overtook me. Not
long after the Grand Sautor alfo arrived,
and before the Naudoweffies left that place
to continue their journey to Michillimac-
kinac, lie found means, in conjun6lion
with fome French traders from Louifiana,
to draw from me about ten of the Nau-
doweffie chiefs, whom he prevailed upon
to go towards thofe parts.
The remainder proceeded, according to
my directions, to the Englilh fort ; from
whence I afterwards heard that they re-
turned to their own country without any
unfortunate accident befalling them, and
greatly pleafed with the reception they
had met with. Whilft not more than
half of thofe \vho went to the fouthward,
through the difference of that fouthera
climate from their own, lived to reach
their
[ 99 ]
their abode. And lince I came to Ens;-
land I have been informed, that the Grand
Sautor having rendered himfelf more and
more difguftful to the Enghfh by his in-
veterate enmity towards them, was at
length ftabbed in his tent, as he encamp-
ed near Michilhmackinac, by a trader to
whom I had related the foregoing ftory.
I fhould have remarked, that whatever
Indians happen to meet at La Prairie le
Chien, the great mart to which all who in-
habit the adjacent countries refort, though
the nations to which they belong are at
v/d.t with each other, yet they are obliged
to reflrain their enmity, and to forbear
all hoftile a£i:s during their ftay there.
This regulation has been long eftablifhed
among them for their mutual conve-
nience, as without it no trade could be
carried on. The fame rule is obferved
alfo at the Red Mountain (afterwards de-
fcribed) from whence they get the ftone
of which they make their pipes : thefe be-
ing indifpenfable to the accommodation
of every neighbouring tribe, a fimilar re-
ftri6lion becomes needful, and is of pubhc
utility.
G 2 The
[ lOO ]
The River St. Pierre, which runs
through the territories of the Naudowef-
iies, flows through a moft delightful couii*
try, abounding with all the neceflaries of
life, that grow fpontaneoufly ; and with
a little cultivation it might be made to
produce even the luxuries of life. Wild
rice grows here in great abundance ; and
every part is filled with trees bending un-
der their loads of fruits, fuch as plums,
grapes, and apples ; the meadows are co-
vered with hops, and many forts of ve-
getables; whilft the ground is ftored with
ufeful roots, with angelica, fpikenard, and
ground-nuts as large as hens eggs. At a
little diftance from the fides of the river
are eminences, from which you have views
that cannot be exceeded even by the moft
beautiful of thofe I have already defcribed ;
amidfl thefe are delightful groves, and fuch
amazing quantities of maples, that they
would produce fugar fufficient for any
number of inhabitants.
A little way from the mouth of this
river, on the north fide of it, (lands a
hill, one part of which, that towards the
Mifliliippi, is compofed entirely of white
flone, of the lame foft nature as that I
have
[ loi ]
have before defcrlbed ; for fuch, Indeed, is
all the flone in this country. ' But what
appears remarkable is, that the colour of it
is as white as the driven fnow. The out-
ward part of it was crumbled by the wind
and weather into heaps of fand, of which
a beautiful compoiition might be made ;
or, I am of opinion that, when properly
treated, the ftone itfelf would grow harder
by time, and have a very noble efteft in
archite6lure.
Near that branch which is termed the
Marble River, is a mountain, from whence
the Indians get a fort of red ftone, out of
which they hew the bowls of their pipes.
Jn lome of thefe parts is found a black hard
clay, or rather ftone, of which the Nau-
doweffies make their family uteniils. This
country likewife abounds with a milk-
white clay, of which China ware might be
made equal in goodnefs to the Aiiatic ;
and alfo with a blue clay that ferves the
Indians for paint ; with this laft they con-
trive, by mixing it with the red ftone pow^
dered, to paint themfelves of different co-
lours, Thofe that can get the blue clay
here mentioned, paint themfelves. very
much with it ; particularly when they are
G 2 about
[ I02 ]
about to begin their fports and paftimes.
It is alio efteemed by them a mark of
peace, as it has a refemblance of a blue
iky, which with them is a fymbol of it,
and made ufe of in their fpeeches as a
figurative expreffion to-denote peace. When
they wilii to fhew that their inclinations
are pacific towards other tribes, they great-
ly ornament both themfelves and their
belts with it.
Having concluded my bufinefs at La
Prairie le Chien, I proceeded once more
up the Miflilhppi as far as the place
where the Chipeway River enters it a
little below Lake Pepin. Here, having
engaged an Indian pilot, I dire(fled him
to fleer towards the Ottawaw Lakes which
lie near the head of this river. This he
did, and I arrived at them the beginning
of July.
The Chipeway River, at its jun6:ioii
with the Miliiirippi, is about eighty yards
wide, but is much wider as you ad-
vance into it. Near thirty miles up it
leparates into two branches, and I took
my courfe through that which lies to the
eaitward.
The
[ ^^3 ]
The country adjoining to the river, for
about lixty miles, is very level, and on its
banks lie fine meadows, where larger
droves of buffaloes and elks w^ere feeding,
than I had obferved in any other part of
my travels. The track between the two
branches of this river is termed the Road
of War between the Chipeway and Nau-
doweffie Indians.
The country to the Falls marked in
the plan at the extent of the traders tra-
vels, is almcfl; without any timber, and
above that very uneven and rugged, and
clofely wooded with pines, beech, maple,
and birch. Here a moft remarkable and
aftonilhing fight prefented itfelf to my
view. In a wood, on the eafl of the
river, which was about three quarters
of a mile in length, and in depth far-
ther than my eye could reach, I obferv-
ed that every tree, many of which were
more than fix feet in circumference, was
lying flat on the ground torn up by
the roots. This appeared to have been
done by fome extraordinary hurricane
that came from the weft fome years ago,
but how many I could not learn, as I
found no inhabitants near it, of whom I
G 4 could
[ I04 1
could gain information. The country on
the weft fide of the river, from being lef$
woody, had efcaped in a great meafure this
havock, as only a few trees were blown
down.
Near the heads of this river is a town
of the Chipeways, from whence it takes
-its name. It is fituated on each fide of
the river (which at this place is of no con-
fiderable breadth) and lies adjacent to the
banks of a fmall lake. This town conr
tains about forty houl'es, and can fend out
upwards of one hundred warriors, many
of whom were fine ftout young men. The
hpufes of it are built after the Indian man-
ner, and have neat plantations behind them ;
but the inhabitants, in general, feemed
to be the naftieft people I had ever been
among. I obferved that the women and
children indulged themfelves in a cuftom,
which though common, in fome degree,
throughout every Indian nation, appears
to be, according to our ideas, of the moll:
iiaufeous and indelicate nature ; that of
fearching each other's head, and eating the
prey caught therein.
In July I left this town, and having
crofled a number pf fmall lakes and car-
rying
C >05 J
yying places that intervened, came to a
head branch of the River St. Croix. This
branch I defcended to a fork, and then
afcendcd another to its fource. On both
thefe rivers I difcovered feveral mines of
virgin copper, which was as pure as that
fomid in any other country.
Here I came to a fmall brook, which
my guide thought might be joined at fome
diftance by ftreams that wpuld at length
render it navigable. The water at firfl:
was fo fcanty, that rny canoe would by
no means fwim in it; but having ftopped
up feveral old beaver dams which had been
broken down by the hunters, I was en-
abled to proceed for fome miles, till by the
conjunction of a few brooks, thefe aids
Ipecame no longer neceflkry. In a Ihort
time the water increafed to a mpft rapid
river, which we defcended till it entered
into Lake Superior. This river I named
after a gentleman that deiired to accompany
me from the tov/n of the Ottagaumies to
the Carrying Place on Lake Superior, God-
dard's River.
To the weft of this is another fmall
river, wdiich alfo empties itfelf into the
J^ajie. This I termed Strawberry River,
from
[ i°6 ]
from the great number of jftrawberrles of
a good fize and fine flavour that grew on
its banks.
The country from the Ottawaw Lakes
to Lake Superior is in general very un-
even and thickly covered with woods.
The foil in fome places tolerably good^
in others but indifferent. In the heads of
the St. Croix and the Chipeway Rivers
are exceeding fine fturgeon. All the wil-
dernefs between the Miffiffippi and Lake
Superior is called by the Indians the Mof-
chettoe country, and I thought it mofl:
juftly named ; for, it being then their
feafon, I never faw or felt fo many of
thofe infe6ls in my life.
The latter end of July I arrived, after
having coafted through Weft Bay, at the
Grand Portage, which lies on the north-
weft borders of Lake Superior. Here
thofe who go on the north- weft trade,
to the Lakes De Pluye, Dubois, &c.
carry over their canoes and baggage about
2]ine miles, till they come to a num-
ber of fmall lakes, the waters of fome
of which defcend into Lake Superior, and
others into the River Bourbon. Lake Su-
perior from Weft Bay to this place is
bounded
[ 107 1
bounded by rocks, except towards the
ibuth-wefl part of the Bay where I firfl
entered it, there it was tolerably level.
At the Grand Portage is a fmall bay,
before the entrance of which lies an ifland
that intercepts the dreary and uninter-
rupted view over the Lake which other-
wife would have prefented itfelf, and
makes the bay ferene and pleafant. Here
I met a large party of the Killiftinoe and
Affinipoil Indians, with their refpeclive
kings and their families. They were
come to this place in order to meet the
traders from Michillimackinac, who make
this their road to the north-well:. From
them I received the following account of
the Lakes that lie to the north-weft of
Lake Superior.
Lake Bourbon, the moft northern of
thofe yet difcovered, received its name
from ibme French traders who accompa-
nied a party of Indians to Hudfon's Bay
fome years ago ; and was thus denomi-
nated by tliem in honour of the royal fa-
mily of France. It is compofed of the
waters of the Bourbon River, which, as
I have before obferved, rifes a great way
to
[ 'o8 ]
to the fouthward, not far from the northern
heads of the Miffiffippi.
This Lake is about eighty miles in
length, north and fouth, and is nearly cir-
cular. It has no very large i (lands on it.
The land on the eaftern fide is very good ;
and to the fouth-weft there are fome
mountains : in many other parts ther: are
barren plains, bogs, and morafles. Its la-
titude is between fifty-two and fifty-four
degrees north, and it lies nearly fouth-
weil from Hudfon's Bay. As through
its northern fituation the weather there is
extremely cold, only a few animals are
to be found in the country that borders
on it. They gave me but an indifferent
account either of the beafts, birds, or fifhes.
There are indeed fome buffaloes of a fmall
fize, which are fat and good about the
latter end of fummer, with a few moofe
and carribboo deer ; however this defi-
ciency is made up by the furs of every
fort that are to be met with in great plenty
around the Lake. The timber growing
here is chiefly fir, cedar, fpruce, and fome
maple.
Lake Winnepeek, or as the French
xvrite it Lac Ouinipique, which lies near-
eft
[ I09 ]
eft to the foregoing, is compofed of the
fame waters. It is in length about two
hundred miles north and fouth ; its breadth
has never been properly afcertained, but
is fuppofed to be about one hundred
miles in its wideft part. This Lake is
very full of iflands ; thefe are, however,
of no great magnitude. Many confi-
derable rivers empty themfelves into it,
which, as yet, are not diftinguifhed by
any names. The waters are ftored with
fifh, fuch as trout and flurgeon, and alfo
with others of a fmaller kind peculiar to
thefe Lakes.
The land on the fouth-VN^efl part of it is
very good, efpecially about the entrance
of a large branch of the River Bourbon
v^hich flows from the fouth- weft. On this
River there is a fa£lory that was built
by the French called Fort La Reine, to
which the traders from Michillimackinac
relbrt to trade with the Aflinipoiis and
Killiftinoes. To this place the Mahahs,
who inhabit a country two hundred and
fifty miles fouth-weft, come alfo to trade
with them ; and bring great quantities of
Indian corn to exchange for knives, toma-
hawks, and other articles. Thefe people are
V ' fuppofed
[ 11^ j
fuppofed to dwell on fome of the branches
of the River of the Weft.
Lake Winnepeek has on the north-eafl
ibme mountains, and on the eaft many
barren plains. The maple or lugar tree
grows here in great plenty, and there is
likewife gathered an amazing quantity of
rice, which proves that grain will fiourifh
in thefe northern climates as well as in
warmer. Buffaloes, carribboo, and moofe
deer, are numerous in thefe parts. The
buffaloes of this countrv differ from thofe
that are found more to the fouth only
in fize ; the former being much fmaller :
juil: as the black cattle of the northern
parts of Great Britain differ from Engliili
oxen.
On the waters that fall into this Lake,
the neighbouring nations take great num-
bers of excellent furs. Some of theie
they carry to the fa6lories and fettle-
ments belonging to the Hudfon's Bay
Company, fituated above the entrance of
the Bourbon River : but this they do
with relu6lance on feveral accounts ; for
fome of the Allinipoils and Killiffinoes,
who ufually traded with the Company's
fervants, told me, that if they could be
furc
r II' ]
fure of a conftant fupply of goods from
Michillimackinac, they would not trade
any where elfe. They fhewed me fonie
cloth and other articles that they had
purchafed at Hudfon's Bay, with which
they w^ere much diffatisfied, thinking they
had been greatly impofed upon in the
barter.
Allowing that their accounts were
true, I could not help joining in their
opinion. But this diffatisfadlion might
probably proceed, in a great meafure,
from the intrigues of the Canadian trad-
ers : for whiift the French were in poi^
feffion of Michillimackinac, having ac-
quired a thorough knowledge of the trade
of the north-weft countries, they were
employed on that account, after the re-
dudion of Canada, by the Englifh trad-
ers there, in the eftablifhment of this
trade with which they were themfelves
quite unacquainted. One of the methods
they took to withdraw thefe Indians from
their attachment to the Hudfon*s Bay
Company, and to engage their good opi-
nion in behalf of their new employers,
was by depreciating on all occafions the
Company's goods, and magnifying the
advantages
[ 112 ]
adv-antages that would a rife to them from
trafficking entirely with the Canadian
traders. In this they too well fucceeded,
and from this, doubtlefs, did the difla-
tisfa6:ion the Affinipoils and Killiftihoes
expreffed to me, partly proceed. But
another reafon augmented it ; and this
was the length of their journey to the
Hudfon's Bay fidories, which, they in-
formed me, took them up three months
during the fummer heats to go and re-
turn, and from the fmallnefs of their ca-
noes they could not carry more than a
third of the beavers they killed. So that
it is not to be wondered at, that thefe
Indians (hould wifh to have traders come
to refide among them. It is true that
the parts they inhabit are within the li-
mits of the Hudfon's Bay territories, but
the Company muft be under the necef-
fity of winking at an encroachment of
this kind, as the Indians would without
doubt protect the traders when among
them. Befides, the palTports granted to the
traders that go from Michilliraackinac give
them liberty to trade to the north-weft
about Lake Superior; by which is meant
Fort La Reine, Lake Winnepeek, or any
other
[ "3 ]
Other parts of the waters of the Bourbon
River, where the Couriers de Bois, or
Traders, may make it moft convenient to
reiide.
Lac du Bois, as it is commonly termed
by the French in their maps, or in Eng-
lifh the Lake of the Wood, is fo called
from the multiplicity of wood growing
on its banks; fuch as oaks, pines, firs,
:(pruce, &c. This Lake lies flill higher
up a branch of the River Bourbon, and
nearly eafl from the fouth end of Lake
Winnepeek. It is of great depth in fome
places. Its length from eaft to weft about
feventy miles, and its "greateft breadth
about forty miles. It has but few iflands,
and thefe of no great magnitude. The
filhes, fowls, and quadrupeds that are
found near it, vary but little from thofe
of the other two lakes. A few of the
Killiftinoe Indians fometimes encamp on
the borders of it to fifh and hunt.
This Lake lies iii the communication
between Lake Superior, and the Lakes
Winnepeek and Bourbon. Its waters are
not efteemed quite fo pure as thofe of the
other lakes, it having, in many places, a
muddy bottom.
H Lac
[ 114 ]
Lac La Pluye, fo called by the French,
in Englifh the Rainy Lake, is fuppofed
to have acquired this name from the firft
travellers, that pafled over it, meeting
with an uncommon deal of rain ; or, as
fbme have affirmed, from a mi ft like rain
occafioned by a perpendicular water-fall
that empties itfelf into a river which lies
to the fouth-weft.
This Lake appears to be divided by an
Ifthmus, near the middle, into two parts:
the weft part is called the Great Rainy
Lake, the eaft, the Little Rainy Lake,
as being the leail: divifion. It lies a few
miles farther to the eaftward, on the fame
branch of the Bourbon, than the lail:-
mentioned Lake. It is in general very
ihallow in its depth. The broadefl: part
of it is not more than twenty miles, its
length, including both, about three hun-
dred miles. In the weft part the water
is very clear and good ; and feme excellent
fifh are taken in it. A great many fowl
refort here at the fall of the year. Moofe
deer are to be found in great plenty, and
llkewife the carribboo ; whofe fkin for
breeches or gloves exceeds by far any
other to be met with in North-America.
The
[ «i5 ]
The land on the borders of this Lake is
efleemed in fome places very good, but
rather too thickly covered with wood.
Here refide a coniiderable band of the Chi-
peways.
Eaftward from this Lake lie feveral
fmall ones, which extend in a firing to
the great carrying place, and from thence
into Lake Superior. Between thefe little
Lakes are feveral carrying places, which
renders the trade to the north- weft diffi-
cult to accomplifh, and exceedingly te-
dious, as it takes two years to make one
voyage from Michillimackinac to thefe
parts.
Red Lake is a comparatively fmall
lake at the head of a branch of the
Bourbon River, which is called by fome
Red River. Its form is nearly round,
and about fixty miles in circumference.
On one fide of it is a tolerable large
ifland, clofe by which a fmall river en-
ters. It bears almoft fouth-eaft both from
Lake Winnepeek and from Lake du Bois.
The parts adjacent are very little known,
or frequented, even by the favages them-
felves.
H 2 - Not
[ 'i6 ]
Not far from this Lake, a little to the
fouth-weft, is another called White Bear
Lake, which is nearly about the fize of
the laft mentioned. The waters that com-
pofe this Lake are the moft northern of
any that fupply the Miffiffippi, and may
be called with propriety its moil: remote
fource. It is fed by two or three fmall
rivers or rather large brooks.
A few miles from it, to the fouth-eaft,
are a great number of fmall lakes, none
of which are more than ten miles in cir-
cumference, that are called the Thoufand
Lakes. In the adjacent country is reck-
oned the fineil: hunting for furs of any
on this continent ; the Indians who hunt
here feldom returning without having
their canoes loaded as deep as they can
fwim.
Having juft before obferved that this
Lake is the utmofl northern fource of
the Miffiffippl, I fhall here further re-
mark, that before this river enters the
Gulph of Mexico, it has not run lels,
through all its meanderings, than three
thouland miles ; or, in a ftrait line from
north to fouth, about twenty degrees,
which
[ '■? ]
which is nearly fourteen hundred Englifh
miles.
The/e Indians informed me, that to
the north-weft of Lake Winnepeek lies
another, whofe circumference vaftly ex-
ceeded any they had given me an account
of. They defcribe it as much larger than
Lake Superior. But as it appears to be
fo far to the north-weft, I fhould imagine
that it was not a lake, but rather the
Archipelago or broken waters that form
the communication between Hudfon's Bay
and the northern parts of the Pacific
Ocean.
There are an infinite number of fmali
lakes, on the more weftern parts of the
weftern head-branches of the Mifliftippi,
as well as between thefe and Lake Win-
nepeek, but none of them are large enough
to fuppofe either of them to be the lake
or waters meant by the Indians.
They like wife informed me, that fome
of the northern branches of the Mefibrie
and the fouthern branches of the St. Pierre
have a communication with each other,
except for a mile ; over which they carry
their canoes. And by what I could learn
from them, this is the road they take
H 3 when
[ ii8 ]
wlien their war parties make their excur-
fions upon the Pawnees and Pawnavvnees,
nations inhabiting fome branches of the
MelTorie River. In the country belong-
ing to thefe people it is faid, that Man-
drakes are frequently found, a Ipecies of
root refembling human beings of both
fexes ; and that thefe are more perfect
than fuch as are difcovered about the Nile
in Nether-Ethiopia.
A little to the north-weft of the heads
of the Meflbrie and- the St. Pierre, the
Indians further told me, that there was a
nation rather Imaller and whiter than the
neighbouring tribes, who cultivate the
ground, and (as far as I could gather
from their expreffions) in fome meafure,
the arts. To this account they added
that fome of the nations, who inhabit
thofe parts that lie to the weft of the
Shining Mountains, have gold fo plenty
among them that they make their moft
common utenfils of it. Thefe mountains
(which I fhall defcribe more particularly
hereafter) divide the waters that fall into
the South Sea from thofe that run into
the Atlantic.
The
[ '19 ]
The people dwelling near them are
fuppofed to be fome of the different tribes
that were tributary to the Mexican kings,
and who fled from their native country to
leek an afylum in thefe parts, about the
time of the conqueft of Mexico by the
Spaniards, more than two centuries ago.
As fome confirmation of this fuppoli-
tion it is remarked, that they have chofen
the moft interior parts for their retreat,
being ftill prepoffefled with a notion that
the fea-coafts have been infefled ever fince
with monfters vomiting fire, and hurling
about thunder and lightning ; from whofe
bowels ilTued men, who, with unfeen
inftruments, or by the power of magick,
killed the harmlefs Indians at an aftonifh-
ing diftance. From fuch as thefe, their
fore- fathers (according to a tradition among
them that flill remains unimpaired) fled
to the retired abodes they now inhabit.
For as they found that the floating mon-
fters which had thus terrified them could
not approach the land, and that thoie
who had defcended from their fides did
not care to make excuriions to any con-
fiderabie diftance from them, they form-
ed a refolution to betake themfelves to
H 4 fome
[ I20 3
lome country, that lay far from the fea-
coafts, where only they could be fecure
from luch diabolical enemies. They ac-
cordingly let out with their families, and
after a long peregrination, fettled them-
felves near thefe mountains, where they
concluded they had found a place of per-
fect lecurity.
The Winnebagoes, dwelling on the
Fox River (whom I have already treated
of) are likewife fuppofed to be feme ftroll-
ing band from the Mexican countries.
But they are able to give only an imper-
fect account of their original refidence.
They fay they formerly came a great way
from the weftward, and were driven by
wars to take refuge among the Naudowef-
iies; but as they are entirely ignorant of
the arts, or of the value of gold, it is ra-
ther to be fuppofed, that they were driven
from their ancient fettlements by the above-
mentioned emigrants, as they paffed on
towards their prefent habitation.
Thefe fuppofitions, however, may want
contirmation ; for the fmaller tribes of In-
dians are fubjeCl to fuch various alterations
in their places of abode, from the wars
they are continually engaged in, that it is
almofl
[ '21 ]
almoft impoffible to afcertaln, after half a
century, the origuial fituation of any of
them.
That range of niountains, of which the
Shlnnig Mouiit.uns are a part, begin at
Mexico, and continuing northward on the
back, or to the eaft of Cahfornia, feparate
the waters of thofe numerous rivers that
fail either into the Gulph of Mexico, or
the Gulph of CaUfornia. From thence
continuing their courfe ftill northward,
between the fources of the Miffillippi and
the rivers that run into the South Sea,
they appear to end in about forty-feven or
forty-eight degrees of north latitude ; where
a number of rivers arile, and empty them-
felves either into the South Sea, into Hud-
fon's Bay, or into tae waters that com-
municate between tbefe two feas.
Among thefe mountains, thofe that lie
to the weft of the River St. Pierre, are
called the Shining Mountains, from an
infinite number of chryftal ftones, of an
amazing lize, with which they are cover-
ed, and which, when the fun fliines full
upon them, fparkle fo as to be {qgu at a
very great diftance.
This
[ 122 ]
This extraordinary range of mountains
]$, calculated to be mors than three thou-
fand miles in length, without any very
conliderable intervals, v^hich I believe
furpafles any thing of the kind in the
other quarters of the globe. Probably in
future ages they may be found to contain
more riches in their bowels, than thofe of
Indoftan and Malabar, or that are produ-
ced on the Golden Coaft of Guinea ; nor
will I except even the Peruvian Mines.
To the weft of thefe mountains, when ex-
plored by future Columbufes or Raleighs,
may be found other lakes, rivers, and
countries, full fraught with all the necef-
faries or luxuries of life; and where fu-
ture generations may find an afylum,
whether driven from their country by the
ravages of lawlefs tyrants, or by religious
perfecutions, or reluctantly leaving it to
remedy the inconveniences arifing from
a fuperabundant increafe of inhabitants ;
whether, I fay, impelled by thele, or al-
lured by hopes of commercial advantages,
there is little doubt but their expectations
will be fully gratified in thefe rich and
iinexhaufted climes.
But
[ 123 ]
But to return to the Affinipolls and
Killiftinoes, whom I left at the Grand
Portage, and from whom I received the
foregoing account of the lakes that lie to
the north-weft of this place.
The traders we expelled heing later this
feafon than ufual, and our numbers very
confiderable, for thi,re were more than
three hundred of us, the Itock of provi-
lion v/e had brought with us was nearly
exhaufted, and wc waited with impatience
for their arrival.
One day, whilll we were all expreffing
our wifhes for this delirable event, and
looking from an eminence in hopes of
feeing them come over the Jake, ths
chief prieil: belonging to the band of the
Killiftinoes tola us, that he would en-
deavour to obtain a conference with the
Great Spirit, and know from him when
the traders would arrive. I paid little at-
tention to this declaration, fuppofing that
it v^^ould be produ6live of fome juggling
trick, jull: fufficiently covered to deceive
the ignorant Indians. But the king of
that tribe telling me that this was chiefly
undertaken by the prieil to alleviate my
anxiety, and at the fame time to convince
me
. [ 124 ]
me how much interefl he had with the
Great Spirit, I thought it neceflarj to re-
train my animadverlions on his defign.
The following evening was fixed upon
for this fpiritual conference. When every
thing had been properly prepared, the
king came to me and led me to a capa-
cious tent, the covering of which was
di-awn up, fo as to render what was tranf-
a<£ling within vifible to thole who flood
without. We found the tent furrounded
by a great number of the Indians, but
we readily gained admiihon, and feated
ourfeives on Ikins laid on the ground for
that purpofe.
In the oentre I obferved that there was
a place of an oblong fhape, which was
compofed of ftakes ftuck in the ground,
with intervals between, fo as to form a
kind of cheft or coffin, large enough to
contain the body of a man. Thefe were
of a middle lize, and placed at fuch a dif-
tance from each other, that whatever lay
within them was readily to be difcerned.
The tent was perfedlly illuminated by a
great number of torches made of fplinters
cut from the pine or birch tree, which the
Indians held in their hands^
- In
[ '25 ]
In a few minutes the priefl: entered;
when an amazing large elk's Ikln being
fpread on the ground, jufl at my feet, he
laid himfelf down upon it, after having
flript himfelf of every garment except that
which he wore clofe about his middle.
Being now proftrate on his back, he firft
laid hold of one fide of the (kin, and
folded it over him, and then the other;
leaving only his head uncovered. This
was no fooner done, than two of the
young men who flood by took about forty
yards of ftrong cord, made alfo of an elk's
hide, and rolled it tight round his body,
fo that he was completely fwathed within
the Ikin. Being thus bound up like an
Egyptian Mummy, one took him by the
heels, and the other by the head, and
lifted him over the pales into the inclo-
fure. I could alfo now difcern him as
plain as I had hitherto done, and I topk
care not to turn my eyes a moment from
the ohjedi before me, that I might the
more readily detedl the artifice ; for fuch
I doubted not but that it would turn out
to be.
The priefl had not lain in this fituation
more than a few feconds, when he began
to
[ '^6 ]
to mutter. This he continued to do for
Ibme time, and then by degrees grew
louder and louder, till at length he fpoke
articulately ; however what he uttered was
in fuch a mixed jargon of the Chipeway,
Ottowaw, and Killiftinoe languages, that
I could underftaud but very little of it.
Having continued in this tone for a con-
fiderable while, he at lafl exerted his voice
to its utmoft pitch, fometimes raving and
fometimes praying, till he had worked
himfelf into fuch an agitation, that he
foamed at his mouth.
After having remained near three quar-
ters of an hour in the place, and conti-
nued his vociferation with unabated vigor,
he feemed to be quite exhaufted, and re-
mained fpeechlefs. But in an inflant he
fprung upon his feet, notwithftanding at
the time he was put in, it appeared im-
poffible for him to move either his legs or
arms, and fhaking off his covering, as
quick as if the bands with which it had
been bound were burned afunder, he be-
gan to addrefs thofe who flood around in a
firm and audible voice. " My Brothers,"
faid he, " the Great Spirit has deigned
" to hold a Talk with his fervant at my
*' earneft
r 127 3
*' carnefl requeft. He has not, indeed,
*' told me when the perfons we txpedi
*' will be here, but to-morrow, foon after
*' the fun has reached his higheft point in
*' the heavens, a canoe will arrive, and
*' the people in that will inform us when
*' the traders will come." Having faid
this, he flepped out of the inclofure, and
after he had put on his robes, difmifled
the affembly. I own I was greatly af-
tonifhed at what I had {een ; but as I ob-
ferved that every eye in the company was
fixed on me with a view to difcover my
fentiments, I carefully concealed every
emotion.
The next day the fun fhone bright,
and long before noon all the Indians were
gathered togetlier on the eminence that
overlooked the lake. The old king came
to me and afked me, whether I had fb
much confidence in what the prieft had
foretold, as to join his people on the hill,
and wait for the completion of it ? I told
him I was at a lofs what opinion to form
of the predi6tion, but that I would readily
attend him. On this we walked together
to the place where the others were aflem-
bled. Every eye was again fixed by turns
on
[ ^28 ]
pn me and on the lake; when jufl as the
fun had reached his zenith, agreeable to
what the prieft had foretold, a canoe came
round a pohit of land about a league dif-
tant. The Indians no fooner beheld it,
than they fent up an unlverfal Ihout, and
by their looks feemed to triumph in the
intereft their prieft thus evidently had with
the Great Spirit.
In lefs than an hour the canoe reached
the Ihore, when I attended the king and
chiefs to receive thofe who were on board.
As foon as the men were landed, we
walked all together to the king's tent,
when according to their invariable cuflom
we began to fmoke; and this we did, not-
withflanding our impatience to know the
tidings they brought, without aiking any
queftions ; for the Indians are the moft
deliberate people in the world. However,
after fome trivial converfatlon, the king in-
quired of them whether they had feen any
thing of the traders ? the men replied, that
they had parted from them a few days be-
fore, and that they propofed being here
the fecond day from the prefent. They
accordingly arrived at that time greatly
to our fatisfadion, but more particularly
fo
[ ^29 ]
fo to that of the Indians, who found by
this event the importance both of their
priell: and of their nation, greatly aug-
mented in the fight of a ftranger.
This flory I acknowledge appears to
carry with it marks of great credulity in
the relator. But no one is lefs tind:ured
with that weaknefs than myfelf. The
circumftances of it I own are of a very
extraordinary nature ; however, as I can
vouch for their being free from either
exaggeration or mifreprefentation, being
myfelf a cool and difpaffionate obferver
of them all, I thought it neceffary to give
them to the public. And this I do with-
out wifhing to miflead the judgment of
my Readers, or to make any fuperftitious
impreffions on their minds, but leaving
them to draw from it what conclufions
they pleafe.
I have already obferved that the Af-
linipoils, with a part of whom I met
here, are a revolted band of the Nau-
doweffies ; who on account of fome real
or imagined grievances, for the Indians in
general are very tenacious of their liberty,
had feparated themfelves from their coun-
trymen, and fought for freedom at the
I expence
[ 13^ ]
expence of their eafe. For the country
they now inhabit about the borders of Lake
Winnepeek, being much farther north,
is not near fo fertile or agreeable as that
they have relinquifhed. They flill retain
the language and manners of their former
affociates.
The Killiftinoes, now the neighbours
and allies of the Aflinipoils, for they
alfo dwell near the fame Lake and on
the waters of the River Bourbon, appear
to have been originally a tribe of the Chi-
peways, as they fpeak their language,
though in a different dialedt. Their na-
tion confifls of about three or four hun-
dred warriors, and they feem to be a
hardy brave people. I have already given
an account of their country when I treated
of Lake Winnepeek. As they reiide with-
in the limits of Hudfon's Bay, they ge-
nerally trade at the factories which be-
long to that Company, but, for the reafons
mentioned before, they frequently come
to the place where 1 happened to join them,
in order to meet the traders from Michil-
iimackinac.
The anxiety I had felt on account of
the traders delay, was not much alle-
viated
[ '3' ]
♦iated by their arrival. I again found my
expectations difappointed, tor I was not
able to procure the goods I wanted from
any of them. I \^ as therefore obliged to
give over my deligns, and return to the
place from whence I firft began my ex-
tenlive circuit. I accordingly took leave
of the old king of the Killiftinoes, with
the chiefs of both bands, and departed.
This prince was upwards of fixty ytars
of age, tall and flightly made, but he car-
ried himfelf very ere6l. He was of a
courteous, affable difpolition, and treated
me, as did all the chiefs, with great ci-
vility.
I obferved that this people ftill conti-
nued a cuftom, that appeared to have been
univerfal before any of them became ac-
quainted with the manners of the Euro-
peans, that of complimenting Grangers with
the company of their wives ; and this is
not only pra6liled by the lower ranks, but
by the chiefs themfelves, who efteem it
the greateft proof of courtefy they can
give a ftranger.
The beginning of October, after hav-
ing coafted round the north and eail bor-
ders of Lake Superior, I arrived at Cadot's
I 2 Fort,
[ ^32 ]
Fort, which adjoins to the Falls of St.
Marie, and is lituated near the fouth-weft
corner of it.
Lake Superior, formerly termed the
Upper Lake from its northern fituation, is
fo called on account of its being fuperior
in magnitude to any of the lakes on that
vaft continent. It might juftly be termed
the Cafpian of America, and is fuppofed
to be the largeft body of frefh water on
the globe. Its circumference, according
to the French charts, is about fifteen hun-
dred miles ; but I believe, that if it was
coailed round, and the utmofl: extent of
every bay taken, it would exceed lixteen
hundred.
After I firft entered it from Goddard's
River on the weft Bay, I coafted near
twelve hundred miles of the north and
eafl ihores of it, and obferved that the
greatefl part of that extenfive traifl was
bounded by rocks and uneven ground.
The water in general appeared to lie on a
bed of rocks. When it was calm, and
the fun fhone bright, I could fit in my
canoe, where the depth was upwards of
fix fathoms, and plainly fee huge piles of
ftone at the bottom, of different Ihapes,
fome
[ '33 1
fbme of which appeared as If they were
hewn. The water at this time was as
pure and tranfparent as air; and my canoe
leemed as if it hung fufpended in that ele-
ment. It was impofiible to look atten-
tively through this limpid medium at the
rocks below, without finding, before many
minutes were elapfed, your head fwim,
and your eyes no longer able to behold
the dazzling fcene.
I difcovered alfo by accident another ex-
traordinary property in the waters of this
Lake. Though it was in the month of
July that I paffed over it, and the furface
of the water, from the heat of the fuper-
ambient air, impregnated with no fmall
degree of warmth, yet on letting down a
cup to the depth of about a fathom, the
water drawn from thence was fo exceffive-
]y cold, that it had the fame efFe6t when
received into the mouth as ice.
The lituation of this Lake is varioufly
laid down ; but from the moft exa£l ob-
fervations I could make, it lies between
forty-iix and fifty degrees of north lati-
tude, and between eighty-four and ninety-
three degrees of weft longitude from the
meridian of London.
I 3 There
[ 134 ]
There are many iilands in this Lake,
two of which are very large ; and if
the land of them is proper for culti-.
vation, there appears to be fufficient to
form on each a confiderable province ; efpe-*
cially on Ifle Royai, which cannot be
lefs than an hundred miles long, and in
many places forty broa'd. But there is
no way at prefent of afcertaining the ex-
ad length or breadth of either. Even
the French, who always kept a fmall
fchooner on this lake whilft they were in
pofleffion of Canada, by which they could
have made this difcovery, have only ac-^
quired a flight knowledge of the external
parts of thefe iflands; at ieaft they have
never publifhed any account of the inter-^
nal parts of them, that 1 could get intel-
ligence of.
Nor was I able to difcover from any
of the converfations which I held with
the neighbouring Indians, that they had
ever made any fettlements on them, or
even landed there in their hunting ex-
curfions. From what I could gather
by their difcourfe, they fuppofe them to
have been, from their firft information,
the refidence of the Great Spirit ; and
relate
[ '^35 ]
relate many ridiculous ftorles of enchant-
ment and magical tricks that had been
experienced by fuch as were obliged
through flrefs of weather to take fhelter on
them.
One of the Chipeway chiefs told me,
that fome of their people being once dri-
ven on the ifland of Mauropas, which lies
towards the north-eafl: part of the Lake,
found on it large quantities of a heavy
fhining yellow fand, that from their de-
fcription muft have been gold duft. Be-
ing ftruck with the beautiful appearance
of it, in the morning, when they re-en-
tered their canoe, they attempted to bring
fome away ; but a fpirit of an amaz-
ing fize, according to their account fixty
feet in height, ftrode into the water after
them, and commanded them to deliver
back what they had taken away. Terri-
fied at his gigantic ftature, and feeing that
he had nearly overtaken them, they were
glad to rellore their fhining treafure ; on
which they were fuffered to depart with-
out further moleftation. Since this in-
cident, no Indian that has ever heard
of it, will venture near the fame haunted
coaft, Befides this, they recounted to me
1 4 . many
[ '36 ]
many other flories of thefe iflands, equally
fabulous.
The countiy on the north and eaft
parts of Lake Superior is very mountain-
ous and barren. The weather being in-
tenfely cold in the winter, and the fun
having but little power in the fummer,
vegetation there is very (low; and confe-
quently but little fruit is to be found on
its fhore. It however produces fome few
fpecies in great abundance. Whirtle-
berries of an uncommon fize, and fine
flavour, grow on the mountains near the
Lake in amazing quantities ; as do black
currants and goofberries in the fame luxu-
riant manner.
But the fruit which exceeds all the
others, is a berry refembling a ra{berry in
its manner of growth, but of a lighter red,
and much larger ; its tafte is far more de-
licious than the fruit I have compared
it to, notwith {landing that is fo highly
efteemed in Europe : it grows on a (hrub
of the nature of a vine, with leaves fimilar
to thofe of the grape ; and I am perfuaded
that was it tranfplanted into a warmer and
more kijidly climate, it would prove a
moft rare and delicious fruit.
Two
[ ^2>1 3
Two very large rivers empty tliem-
felves into this Lake, on the north and
north-eaft lide ; one is called the Nipe-
gon River, or, as the French pronounce
it, the Allanipegon, which leads to a band
of the Chlpeways, inhabiting a lake of
the fame name, and the other is termed
the Michlpicooton River, the foiirce of
which is fituated towards James's Bay,
from whence there is but a fhort carriage
to another river, which empties itfelf into
that bay, at a fort belonging to the Com-
pany. It was by this paffage that a
party of French from Michillimackinac
invaded the fettlements of that Society in
the reign of Queen Anne. Having taken
and deflroyed their forts, they brought
the cannon which they found in them
to the fortrefs from whence they had
iffued ; thefe were fmall brafs pieces, and
remain there to this prefent time ; hav-
ing, through the ufual revolutions of for-
tune, returned to the poffeffion of their
former mafters.
Not far from the Nipegon is a fmall
river, that, juft before it enters the Lake,
has a perpendicular fall from the top of
a mountain, of more than fix hundred
feet.
[ '38 ]
feet. Being very narrow, it appears at a
diftance like a white garter fulpended in
the air.
A few Indians inhabit round the eadern
borders of this lake, fuppofed to be the
remains of the Algonkins, who formerly
poflefled this country, but who have been
nearly extirpated by the Iroquois of Ca-
nada. Lake Superior has near forty ri-
vers that fall into it, fome of which are
of a conliderable fize. On the fouth fide
of it is a remarkable point or cape, of
about fixty miles in length, called Point
Chegomegan. It might as properly be
termed a peninfula, as it is nearly fepa-
rated from the continent, on the eaft fide,
by a narrow bay that extends from eaft to
weft. Canoes have but a (hort portage
acrofs the ifthmus, whereas if they coaffc
it round, the voyage is more than an hun-
dred miles.
About that diftance to the weft of the
cape juft defcribed, a coniiderable river
falls into the Lake, the head of which is
compofed of a great aftemblage of fmall
ftreams. This river is remarkable for the
abundance of virgin copper that is found
on and near its banks. A metal which
is
[ 139 ]
IS met with alfo in feveral other places
on this coaft. I obferved that many of
the fmall iflands, particularly thole on
the eaftern fhores, were covered with cop-
per ore. They appeared like beds of cop-
peras, of which many tuns lay in a fmall
Ipace,
A company of adventurers from Eng-
land began, foon after the conqueft of
Canada, to bring away fome of this me-
tal, but the diilraded lituatlon of affairs in
America has obliged them to relinquiih
their fcheme. It might in future times
be made a very advantageous trade, as the
metal, which cofts nothing on the {pot,
and requires but little expence to get it on,
board, could be conveyed in boats or ca-
noes through the Fails of St. Marie to
the Ifle of St. Jofeph, which lies at the
bottom of the Straights near the entrance
into Lake Huron ; from thence it might
be put on board larger vefl'els, and in
them tranfported acrofs that Lake to the
Falls of Niagara ; there being carried by
land acrofs the Portage, it might be con-
veyed without much more obftrudlion to
Quebec. The cheapnefs and eafe with
>yhich any quantity of it may be procured,
will
[ Uo ]
will make up for the length of way that
it is neceffary to tranfport it before it
reaches the lea-coaft, and enable the pro-
prietors to fend it to foreign markets on
as good terms as it can be exported from
other countries.
Lake Superior abounds with variety of
fifh, the principal and befl are the trout
and fturgeon, which may be caught at
almoft any feafon in the greateft abun-
dance. The trouts in general weigh about
twelve pounds, but fome are caught that
exceed fifty. Befides thele, a fpecics of
white filli is taken in great quantities
here, that refembfe a fliad in their {hape,
but they are rather thicker, and lefs bony ;
they weigh about four pounds each, and
are of a delicious tafte. The befl way of
catching thefe fifh is with a net ; but the
trout might be taken at all times with
the hook. There are likewife many forts
of fmaller fifh in great plenty here, and
which may be taken with eafe ; among
thefe is a fort refembling a herring, that
are generally made ufe of as a bait for the
trout. Very fmall crabs, not larger than
half a crown piece, are found both in this
and Lake Michegan.
This
[ 14. 1
This Lake is as much affe6led by florms
as the Atlantic Ocean ; the waves run as
high, and are equally as dangerous to
fliips. It diicharges its waters from the
fouth-eaft corner, through the Straights
of St. Marie. At the upper end of thefe
Straights ftands a fort that receives its
name from them, commanded by Monf.
Cadot, a French Canadian, who being pro-
prietor of the foil, is ftill permitted to keep
pofleliion of it. Near this fort is a very
flrong rapid, againll: which, though it is
impollible for canoes to afcend, yet when
conduded by careful pilots, they might
pafs down without danger.
Though Lake Superior, as I have be-
fore obferved, is fupplied by near forty ri-
vers, many of which are coniiderable ones,
yet it does not appear that one- tenth part
of the waters which are conveyed into it
* by thefe rivers are carried off at this eva-
cuation. How fuch a fuperabundance of
water can be difpofed of, as it muft cer-
tainly be by fome means or other, with-
out which the circumference of the lake
would be continually enlarging, I know
not : that it does not empty itlelf, as the
Mediterranean Sea is fuppofed to. do, by
au
r u2 ]
an under current, which perpetually coun*
teraAs that near the furface, is certain ;
for the ftream which falls over the rock
is not more than five or fix feet in depth,
and the whole of it pafl'es on through the
Straights into the adjacent lake ; nor is it
probable that fo great a quantity can be
abforbed by exhalations ; confequently
they mufl: find a pafiage through fome fub-
terranean cavities, deep, unfatiiomable, and
never to be explored.
The Fails of St. Marie do not de-
fcend perpendicularly as thofe of Niagara
or St. Anthony do, but confiil: of a rapid
which continues near three quarters of a
mile, over which canoes well piloted might
pais.
At the bottom of thefe Falls, Nature
has formed a moft commodious flation for
catching the fifh which are to be found
there in immenfe quantities. Perlons
Handing on the rocks that lie adjacent
to it, may take with dipping nets, about
the months of September and Odober,
the white fifh before mentioned ; at that
ieafon, together with leveral other fpe-
cies, they croud uu to this fpot in fuch
amazing fhoals, that enough may bq
taken
[ U3 ]
taken to fupply, when properly cured,
thoufands of inhabitants throughout the
year.
The Straights of St. Marie are about
forty miles long, bearing fouth-eaft, but
varying much in their breadth. The
current between the Falls and Lake Hu-
ron is not fo rapid as might be expelled,
nor do they prevent the navigation of
(hips of burden as far up as the ifland of
St. Jofeph.
It has bten obferved by travellers that
the entrance into Lake Superior, from
thefe Straights, affords one of the moft
pleafing profpeds in the world. The place
in which this might be viewed to the
greateft advantage, is jufl at the opening
of the lake, from whence may be feen.
on the left, many beautiful little iflands
that extend a coniiderable way before
you ; and on the right, an agreeable fuc-
ceflion of fmall pointo of land, that pro-
je(£t a little way into the Vv'^ater, and con-
tribute, with the iflands, to render this
delightful bafon (as it might be termed)
calm and fecure from the ravages of thoie
tempeftuous winds by which the adjoining-
lake is frequently troubled.
Lake
[ U4 3
Lake Huron, into which yon now en-
ter from the Straights of St. Marie, is the
next in magnitude to Lake Superior. It
lies between forty-two and forty-fix de-
grees of north latitude, and feventy-nine
and eighty-five degrees of weft longitude.
Its fhape is nearly triangular, and its cir-
cumference about one thoufand miles.
On the north fide of it lies an ifland
that is remarkable for being near an hun-
dred miles in length, and no more than
eight miles broad. This ifland is known
by the name of Manataulin, which figni-
fies a Place of Spirits, and is confidered by
the Indians as facrcd as thofe already men-
tioned in Lake Superior,
About the middle of the fouth-weft fide
of this lake is Saganaum Bay. The capes
that feparate this bay from the lake, are
about eighteen miles diftant from each
other ; near the middle of the intermediate
Ipace ftand two iflands, which greatly tend
to facilitate the paflage of canoes and fmall
veffels, by affording them fhelter, as with-
out this fecurity it would not be prudent
to venture acrofs fo wide a fea ; and the
coafting round the bay would make the voy-
age long and tedious. This bay is about
eighty
[ '45 ]
eighty miles in length, and in general
about eighteen or twenty miles broad.
Nearly half way between Saganaum
Bay and the north-weft corner of the Lake
lies another, which is termed Thunder
Bay. The Indians, who have frequented
thefe parts from time immemorial, and
every European traveller that has pafled
through it, have unanimoufly agreed to
call it by this name, on account of the
continual thunder they have always ob-
ferved here. The bay is about nine miles
broad, and the fame in length, and whilfl
I was paffing over it, which took me up
near twenty-four hours, it thundered and
lightened during the greateft part of the
time to an exceilive degree.
There appeared to be no viiible reafon
for this that I could difcover, nor is the
country in general lubje6l to thunder ;
the hills that ftood around were not of
a remarkable height, neitlier did the ex-
ternal parts of them feem to be covered
with any fulphureous lubftance. But as
this phaenomenon muft originate from
fome natural caufe, 1 conje6lure that the
fhores of the bay, or the adjacent moun-
tains, . are either impregnated with an un-
K common
[ 146 ]
common quantity of fulphureous matter^
or contain fome metal or mineral apt to
attradl in a great degree the ele£trical par-
ticles that are hourly borne over them
by the paffant clouds. But the folution
of this, and thofe other philofophical re-
marks which cafually occur throughout
thefe pages, I leave to the difcuffion of
abler heads.
The fifh in Lake Huron are much the
fame as thofe in Lake Superior. Some
of the land on its banks is very fertile,
and proper for cultivation, but in other
parts it is fandy and barren. The promon-
tory that feparates this lake from Lake
Michegan, is compofed of a vaft plain,
upwards of one hundred miles long, but
varying in its breadth, being from ten to
fifteen miles broad. This track, as I have
before obferved, is divided into almoft an
equal portion between the Ottowaw and
Chipeway Indians. At the north-eail cor-
ner this lake has a communication with
Lake Michegan, by the Straights of Mi-
chiliimackinac already defcribed.
I had like to have omitted a very ex-
traordinary circumftance relative to thefe
Straights. According to obfervations made
by
[ U7 ]
by the French, whilfl they were in pof-
feflion of the fort, although there is no
diurnal flood or ebb to be perceived in
thefe waters, yet, from an exa£l attention
to their ftate, a periodical alteration in
them has been difcovered. It was ob-
ferved that they arofe by gradual, but al-
moft imperceptible degrees till they had
reached the height of about three feet.
This was accomplished in feven years and
a half; and in the fame fpace they as
gently decreafed, till they had reached
their former iituation ; fo that in fifteen
years they had completed this inexpli-
cable revolution. At the time I was there
the truth of thefe obfervations could not
be confirmed by the Englifh, as they had
then been only a few years in pofleffion of
the fort ; but they all agreed that fome
alteration in the limits of the Straights
was apparent. All thefe lakes are fo af-
fedled by the winds, as fometimes to have
the appearance of a tide, accordii^ig as they
happen to blow ; but this is only tempo-
rary and partial.
A great number of the Chipeway In-
dians live fcattered around this Lake, par-
ticularly near Saganaum Bay. On its
K 2 banks
[ 148 ]
banks are found an amazing quantity of
the fand cherries, and in the adjacent coun-
try nearly the lame fruits as thofe that
grow about the other lakes.
From the Falls of St. Marie I leifurely
proceeded back to MichiiUmackinac, and
arrived there the beginning of November
1767, having been fourteen months on
this exteniive tour, travelled near four
thoufand miles, and viiited twelve nations
of Indians lying to the weft and north of
this place. The winter fetting in foon
alter my arrival, I was obliged to tarry
there till the June following, the navi-
gation over Lake Huron for large veffels
not being open, on account of the ice,
till that time. Meeting here with foci-
able company, I pafled thefe months very
agreeably, and without finding the hours
tedious.
One of my chief amufements was that
of fifliing for trouts. Though the Straights
were covered with ice, we found means
to make holes through it, and letting down
ftrong lines of fifteen yards in length, to
which were fixed three or four hooks
baited with the fmall fifli before defcrlbed,
we frequently caught two at a time of
forty
[ ^49 ]
forty pounds weight each ; but the com-
mon lize Is from ten to twenty pounds.
Thefe are moll: delicious food. The me-
thod of preferving them during the three
months the winter generally lads, is by
hanging them up in the air; and in one
night they will be frozen fo hard, that
they will keep as well as if they were
cured with fait.
I have only pointed out in the plan of
my travels the circuit I made from my
leaving Michillimackinac till I arrived
again at that fort, Thofe countries that
lie nearer to the colonies have been fo
often and fo minutely defcribed, that any
further account of them would be ufe-
lels. I fhall therefore only give my Read-
ers in the remainder of my journal, as I
at firfl: propofed, a defcription of the other
great lakes of Canada, many of which I
have navigated over, and relate at the fame
time a few particular incidents that I trufl
will not be found inapplicable or unenter-
tannng.
In June 1768 I left Michillimackinac,
and returned in the Gladwyn Schooner, a
velTel of about eighty tons burthen, over
Lake Huron to Lake St. Claire, where we
K 3 left
[ 15° ]
left the {hip, and proceeded in boats to,
Detroit. This lake is about ninety miles
in circumference, and by the way of
Huron River, which runs from the fouth
corner of Lake Huron, receives the wa-
ters of the three great lakes, Superior,
Michegan, and Huron. Its form is ra-
ther round, and in fome places it is deep
enough for the navigation of large veflels,
but towards the middle of it there is a
bar of fand, which prevents thofe that
are loaded from paffing over it. Such
as are in ballafh only may find water fuf-
ficient to carry them quite through ; the
cargoes, however, of fuch as are freighted
muft be taken out, and after being tranf-
ported acrofs the bar in boats, refliipped
again.
The river that runs from Lake St.
Claire to Lake Erie (or rather the Straight,
for thus it might be termed from its name)
is called Detroit, which is in French, the
Straight. It runs nearly fouth, has a
gentle current, and depth of water fufficient
for fhips of conliderable burthen. The
town of Detroit is fituated on the weflern
banks of this river, about nine miles be-
low Lake St. Claire.
Almof^
[ IJ' ]
AlmofT: oppofi^-e, on the eaftern ihore,
is the village of die ancient Hurons : a
tribe of Indians which have been treated
of by fo many v/riters, that adhering to
the reilrl^lioDS I have laid myfelf under
of only defcribing places and people little
known, or incidents that have pafTed un-
noticed by others, I fhall omit giving a
defcription of them. A miffionary of the
order of Carthufian Friars, by permiffion
of the bifhop of Canada, reiides among
them.
The banks of the River Detroit, both
above and below thefe towns, are covered
with fettlements that extend more than
twenty miles ; the country being exceed-
ingly fruitful, and proper for the cultiva-
tion of wheat, Indian corn, oats, and peas.
It has alfo many fpots of fine pafturage ;
but as the inhabitants, who are chiefly
French that fubmitted to the Englifh go-
vernment after the conqueft of thefe parts
by General Amherft, are more attentive to
to the Indian trade than to farming, it is
but badly cultivated.
The town of Detroit contains up-
wards of one hundred houfes. The ftreets
are fomewhat regular, and have a range of
K 4 very
[ 152 ]
very convenient and handfome barracks,
with a Ipacious parade at the foiith end.
On the weft fide lies the Kino's garden
belonging to the governor, which is very
well laid out and kept in good order. The
fortifications of the town coniift of a
ftrong ftockade made of round piles, fixed
firmly in the ground, and lined with pa-
liiades. Thefe are defended by fome fmall
baftions, on which are mounted a few in-
difi:erent cannon of an inconfiderable fize,
JLift fufficient for its defence againft the In-^
dians, or an enemy not provided with ar-
tillery.
The garrifon, in time of peace, confifls
of two hundred nrien commanded by a
field officer, who a6ls as chief magiftrate
under the governor of Canada. Mr. Turn-
bull, captain of the 6oth regiment, or
Royal Americans, was commandant when
I happened to be there. This gentleman
was defervedly efleemed and refpeded,
both by the inhabitants and traders, for the
propriety of his conduit ; and I am happy
to have an opportunity of thus publickly
m.aking my acknowledgments to him, for
the civilities I received from him during
my flay.
In
[ ^53 ]
In the year 1762, in the month of
July, it rained on this town and the parts
adjacent, a fulphureous water of the colour
and confidence of ink ; fome of which be-
ing colle6lcd into bottles, and wrote with
appeared perfe6lly intelligible on the pa-
per, and anfwered every purpofe of that
ufeful liquid. Soon after, the Indian
wars already fpoken of, broke out in thefe
parts. I mean not to fay that this in-
cident was ominous of them, notwith-
flanding it is well known that innunaer-
able well attefled inftances of extraordinary
phsenomena happening before extraordi-
nary events, have been recorded in almofl
every age by hiftorians of veracity; I only
relate the circumftances as a fa6t of which
I was informed by many perfons of un-
doubted probity, and leave my Readers, as
I have hitherto done, to draw their own
conclufions from it.
Pontiac, under whom the party that
furprized Fort Michillimackinac, as re-
lated in the former part of this work,
afted, was an enterprizing chief or head-
warrior of the Miames. During the late
war between the* Englilh and the French
he had been a fteady friend to the latter,
and
[ ^54 ]
and continued his inveteracy to the £ot-^
mer even after peace had been concluded
between thefe two nations. Unwilhng
to put an end to the depredations he had
been fo long engaged in, he collefted an
army of confederate Indians, conf'lring
of the nations before enumerated, wich
an intention to renew the war. How-
ever, inftead of openly attacking the Eng-
lifh fettlements, he laid a fcheme for tak-
ing by furprize thofe forts on the extre-
mities which they had lately gained pof-
fefiion of.
How v/ell the party he detached to
take Fort Michillimackinac fucceeded, the
Reader already knows. To get into his
hands Detroit, a place of greater con-
fequence, and much better guarded, re-
quired greater refolution, and more con-
fummate art. He of courfe took the
management of this expedition on him-
lelf, and drew near it with the principal
body of his troops. He was however
prevented from carrying his defigns into
execution by an apparently trivial and un-
forefeen circumflance. On fuch does
the fate of mighty Empires frequently de-
pend !
'■ The
[ '55 ]
The town of Detroit, when Pontiac
formed his plan, was garrifoned by about
three hundred men commanded by Ma-
jor Gladwyn, a gallant officer. As at
that time every appearance of war was at
an end, and the Indians feemed to be on
a friendly footing, Pontiac approached
the Fort, without exciting any fufpicions
in the breafl: of the governor or the inha-
bitants. He encamped at a little diftance
from it, and fent to let the commandant
know that he was come to trade ; and
being defirous of brightening the chain of
peace between the Englifh and his na-
tion, defired that he and his chiefs may
be admitted to hold a council with him.
The governor flill unfufpicious, and not
in the leaft doubting the fincerity of the
Indians, granted their general's requeft,
and fixed on the next morning for their
reception.
The evening of that day, an Indian
woman who had been employed by Ma-
jor Gladwyn to make him a pair of In-
dian Ihoes, out of curious elk-lkin, brought
them home. The Major was fo pleafed
with them, that, intending thefe as a
prefent for a friend, he ordered her to
take
[ *56 ]
take the remainder back, and make it
into others for himfelf. He then di-
rected his lervant to pay her for thofe flie
had done, and difmilTed her. The Vv^o-
man went to the door that led to the
ftreet; hut no further ; flie there loitered
about as if flie had not finilhed the bufir
nefs on which fhc came. , A fervant at
length obferved her, and aiked her why
ihe ftaid there ; fhe gave him, however,
no anfwer.
Some ihort time after, the p-overnor
himielf faw her ; and enquired of his
fervant what occafioned her ftay. Not
being able to get a fatisfa6tory anfwer,
he ordered the woman to be called in.
When flie came into his prefence he de-
lired to know what was the reafon of her
loitering about, and not haftening home
before the gates were fhut, that fhe might
complete in due time the work he had
given her to do. She told him, after
much hefitation, that as he had always be-
haved with great goodnefs towards her,
fhe was unwilhng to take away the re-
mainder of the Ikin, becaufe he put fo
great a value upon it ; and yet had not
been able to prevail upon herfelf to tell
him
t '57 ]
Lim Co. Fie then afked her, why fhe was
more relu(Saat to do fo now, than fhe
had been when (he made the former pair.
With incrcafed reliicVance fhe anfwered,
that flie never fliould be able to bring
them back.
His curioiity being now excited, he
iniiftcd on her difclolinp' to him the fe-
cret that feemed to be ftnio-ghno; in her bo-
fom for utterance. At laft, on receiving
a promife that the inteUigence fhe was
about to give him fhould not turn to her
prejudice, and that if it appeared to be
beneficial fhe fhould be rewarded for it,
fhe informed him, that at the council to
be held with the Indians the following
day, Pontiac and his chiefs intended to
murder him ; and, after having maflacred
the garrifon and inhabitants, to plunder
the town. That for this purpofe all the
chiefs who were to be admitted into the
council-room had cut their guns fhort,
fo that they could conceal them under
their blankets ; with which, at a fignal
given by their general on delivering the
belt, they were all to rife up, and in-
flantly to fire on him and his attendants.
Having effeded this, they were imme-
diately.
i ^5^ 1
diateiy to rufh into the town, ivhere
they would find themfelves fupported by
a great number of their warriors, that
were to come into it during the fitting
of the council, under pretence of trading,
but privately armed in the firnie man-
ner. Having gained from the woman
every neceflary particular relative to the
plot, and alfo the means by which fhe ac-
quired a knowledge of them, he difmifled
her with injunftions of fecrecy, and a
promife of fultiiling -on his part with
punctuality the engagements he had en-
tered into.
The intelligence the governor had juft
received, gave him great uneafinefs ; and
he immediately confulted the officer who
was next to him in command on the fub-
je6l. But that gentleman confidering the
information as a ftory invented for fome
artful purpofes, advifed him to pay no
attention to it. This conclufion however
had happily no weight with him. He
thought it prudent to conclude it to be
true, till he was convinced that it was
not fo ; and therefore, without revealing
his fufpicions to any other perfon, he
took every needful precaution that the
time
C i59 1
time would admit of. He walked round
the fort during the whole night, and faw
himfelf that every centinel was on dutj^
and every weapon of defence in proper
order.
As he traverfed the ramparts which
lay neareft to the Indian camp, he heard
them in high feilivity, and, little ima-
gining that their plot was difcoveredj
probably pleafing themfelves with the
anticipation of their fuccefs. As foon as
the morning dawned, he ordered all the
garrifon under arms; and then imparting
his apprehenfions to a few of the princi-
pal officers, gave them fuch directions as
he thought necefiary. At the fame time
he fent round to all the traders, to in-
form them, that as it was expelled a
great number of Indians would enter the
town that day, who might be inclined
to plunder, he defired they would have
their arms ready, and repel every attempt
of that kind.
About ten o'clock, Pontiac and his
chiefs arrived ; and were conduced to the
council-chamber, where the governor and
his principal officers, each with piflols
in their belts, awaited his arrival. As
the
[ i6o ]
the Indians palled on, they could not
help obferving that a greater number of
troops than ufual were drawn up on the
parade, or marchnig about. No fooner
were they entered, and feated on the
Ikins prepared for them, than Pontlac
afked the governor on what occafion his
young men, meaning the foldiers, were
thus drawn up, and parading the ftreets.
He received for anfwer, that it was only
intended to keep them perfe6l in their ex-
erclfe.
The Indian chief- warrior now began
his fpeech, which contained the ftrongefl
profeffions of friendfliip and good-will
towards the Engliili ; and v/hen he came
to the delivery of the belt of wampum,
the particular mode of which, according
to the woman's information, was to be
the lignal for his chiefs to tire, the go-
vernor and all his attendants drew their
Iwords half-way out of their fcabbards ;
and the foldiers at the fame inflant made
a clattering with their arms before the
doors, which had been purpofely left
open. Pontiac, though one of the bold-
eft of men, immediately turned pale, and
trembled ; and inftead of giving the belt
in
[ .61 ]
in the manner propofed, delivered it ac-
cording to the ufual way. His chiefs, who
had impatiently expe£led the (ignal, looked
at each otht^r with aftoniihment,. but con-
tinued quiet, waiting the relult.
The governor in his turn made a
Ipeech ; but inftead of thanking the great
warrior for the proteffions of friendihip
he had juft uttered, he accufed him of
being a traitor He told him that the
Engiiih, who knew every thing, were con-
vinced of h-s treachery and villaiiious de-
iigns; and as a proof that they were well
acquainted with his mofl fecret thoughts
and intentions, he ftepped towards the
Indian chief that fat neareft to him, and
drawing afide his blanket difcovered the
fhortened firelock. This entirely difcon-
certed the Indians, and fruflrated their
defign.
He then continued to tell them, that
as he had given his word at the time they
defired an audience, that their perfons
fhould be fafe, he would hold his promife
inviolable, though they fo little deferved
it. However he advifed them to make
the beft of their way out of the fort, left
his young men, on benig acquainted with
L th.ir
[ l62 ]
their treacherous purpofes, fhould cut
every one of them to pieces. Pontiac en-
deavoured to contradi6: the accufation,
and to make excufes for his fufpicious con-
duct ; but the governor, fatisfied of the
falfity of his proteftations, would not liften
to him. The Indians immediately left
the fort, but inflead of being feniible of
the governor's generous behaviour, they
threw off the mafk, and the next day made
a regular attack upon it.
Major Gladwyn has not efcaped cen-
fure for this miftaken lenity ; for pro-
bably had he kept a few of the princi-
pal chiefs priibners, whilft he had them
in his power, he might have been able
to have brought the whole confederacy
to terms, and have prevented a war.
But he atoned for this overfight, by the
gallant defence he made for more than
a year, amidft a variety of difcourage-
ments.
During that period fome very fmart
Ikirmifhes happened between the befiegers
and the garrifon, of which the follow-
ing v^^as the principal and moll: bloody.
Captain Delzel, a brave officer, prevailed
on the governor to give him the command
of
I '63 ]
of about two hundred men, and to permit
him to attack the enemy's camp. This
being complied with, he falli' d from the
town before day -break ; but Pontiac, rci-
ceiving from lome of his fvvift-footed war-
riors, who were conftatitly employed in
watchiiig the motions of the garrifon,
timely intelligence of their ddign, he
colle«£lcd togvther the choiceft of his
troops, and met the d._tachment at fome
diflance from his camp, near a place lince
called Bloody-Bridgj. As the Indians
were vaftly fuperior in numbers to cap-
tain Delzei's party, he was foon over-
powered and driven back. Being now
nearly furrounded, he made a vigorous
effort to regain the bridge he had juft
crofied, by which alone he could find a
retreat; but in doing this he loft his life,
and many of his men fell witti him. How-
ever, Major Rogers, the fecond m com-
mand, affifted by Lieutenant Breham, found
means to draw off the Ihattered remains
of their little army, and conducted them
into the fort.
Thus coniiderabiy reduced. It was with
difficulty the Major could defend the
town ; notwitliliauding which, he held
L 2 out
[ i64 ]
out agalnfl the Indians till he was reliev-
ed, as after this they made but few at-
tacks on the place, and only continued to
blockade it.
The Gladwyn Schooner (that in which
I afterwards took my paflage from Mi-
chillimackinac to Detroit, and which I
iince learn was lofl: with all her crew on
Lake Erie, through the obftinacy of the
commander, who could not be prevailed
upon to take in fufficient ballaft) arrived
about this time near the town with a re-
inforcement and neceflkry fupplies. But
before this veflel could reach the place of
its deftination, it was mofl vigoroufly at-
tacked by a detachment from Pontiac's
army. The Indians furrounded it in
their canoes, and made great havock among
the crew. At length the captain of the
fchooner with a coniiderable number of
his men being killed, and the favages be-
ginning to climb up its fides from every
quarter, the Lieutenant (Mr. Jacobs, who
afterwards commanded, and was loft in
it) being determined that the ftores fliould
not fall into the enemy's hands, and fee-
ing no other alternative, ordered the gun-
ner to fet fire to the powder-room, and
bio vv
[ '6j ]
blow the (hip np. This order was on the
point of being executed, when a chief of
the Hurons, who underftood the Englifh
language, gave out to his friends the in-
tention of the commander. On receiving
this intelligence the Indians hurried down
the lides of the ihip with the greatefl pre-
cipitation, and got as far from it as pof-
iible ; whilft the commander immediately
took advantage of their confternation, and ■
arrived without any further obftrudion at
the town.
This feafonable fupply gave the gar-
rifon frefli fpirits ; and Pontiac being now
convinced that it would not be in his
power to reduce the place, propofed an
accommodation ; the governor wifhing as ^
much to get rid of fuch troublefome ene-
mies, who obftrufted the intercourfe of
the traders with the neighbouring nations,
liftened to his propofals, and having pro-
cured advantageous terms, agreed to a peace.
The Indians foon after feparated, and re-
turned to their different provinces ; nor
have they fince thought proper to difturb,
at leaft in any great degree, the tranquil-
lity of thefe parts.
L ^ Pontiac
[ i66 ]
Pontlac henceforward feemed to have
laid aiide the auimolitv he had htherto
borne towards the Enghfh, aiid apparent-
ly became their zealous f iv^nd. To re-
ward this new attachment, and to in-
fure a contuiuaoce of it, government al-
loi^ed him a haudlome penfion. But his
reftlefs and intrigiung i pis it would not
futter him to be grateful for this allow-
ance, and his conduct at length grew
fulpicious ; io that goir)g, in the year
1767, to hold a council in the country
of the Illinois, a faithful Indian, who was
either commiffioned by one of the Eng-
lifh governors, or inftigated by the love
he bore the Englifh nation, attended hirrx
as a fpy ; and being convinced from the
fptech Pontiac made in the council that he
ftill retained his former prejudices againft
thole for whom he now profefled a friend-
fliip, he plunged his knife into his heart,
as foon as he had done fpeaking, and laid
him dead on the fpot.
But to return from this digrefiion.
Lake Erie receives the waters by which
it is lupplied from the three great lakes,
through the Straights of Detroit, that lie
at its north- well corner. This Lake is
fituated
[ '6; ]
fituated between forty-one and forty-three
degrees of north latitude, and between fe-
venty-clght and eighty-three degrees of
weft longitude. It is near three hundred
miles long from eaft to weft, and about
forty in its broadeft part : and a remark-
able long narrow point lies on its north
fide, that projeds for feveral miles into the
lake towards the ibuth-eaft.
There are feveral iflands near the weft
end of it fo infefted with rattle-fnakes, that
it is very dangerous to land on them. It
is impoffible that any place can produce a
greater number of all kinds of thefe rep-
tiles than this does, particularly of the
water- fnake. The Lake is covered near
the banks of the iflands with the large
pond-lily ; the leaves of which He on the
furface of the water fo thick, as to cover it
entirely for many acres together ; and on
each of thefe lay, when 1 pafl'ed over it,
wreaths of water-fnakes baiking in the fun,
which amounted to myriads.
The moft remarkable of the different
fpecies that infeft this Lake, is the hifl-
ing-fnake, which is of the fmall fpeck-
led kind, and about eighteen inches long.
When any thing approaches, it flattens
L 4 itfelf
r i68 ]
itfelf in a moment, and its fpots, which
arc of various dyes, become vllibly brighter
through rage ; at the lame time it blows
from its mouth with great force a fubtile
wind, that is reported to be of a naufeous
fmell ; and if drawn in with the breath of
the unwary traveller, will infalUbly bring
on a decline, that in a few months mufl
prove mortal, there being no remedy yet
difcovered whicii can countera£l its bane-
ful influence.
The flones and pebbles on the fhores of
this Lake are moft of them tinged, in a
greater or lefs degree, with fpots that re-
femble brafs in their colour, but which are
of a fulphureous nature. Small -pieces,
about the fize of hazle-nuts, of the lame
kinds of ore, are found on the lands that
lie on its banks, and under the water.
1 he navigarion of this Lake is efleemed
more dangerous than any of the others on
account of many high lands that lie on
the borders of it, and projedl into the wa-
ter in a perpendicular diredtion for many
miles together ; io that whenever fudden
ftorms arife, canoes and boats are frequent-
ly loft, as there is no place for them to
find a Ihelter.
This
t 169 3
This Lake difcharges its waters at tlie
north-eaft end, into the River Niagara,
whic.i runs north and fouth, and Is about
thirty -fix ml Its In length ; from whence
it falls into Lake Ontario. At the en-
trance of this river, on its eaflern Ihore,
lies Fort Niagara ; and, about eighteen
miles further up, thofe remarkable Falls
which are efleemed one of the mofl: extra-
ordinary produdions of nature at prefent
known.
As theie have been vifited by fb many
travellers, and fo frequently defcribed, I
fl^all omit giving a particular defcription
of them, and only oblerve, that the wa-
ters by which they are fupplied, after
taking their rife near two thoufand miles
to the north-wefl, and pafling through the
Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and
Erie, during which they have been receiv-
ing conftant accumulations, at length rufh
down a ftupendous precipice of on© hun-
dred and forty feet perpendicular; and in
a flrong rapid, that extends to the dlflance
of eight or nine miles below, fall nearly
as much more : this River foon after emp-
ties itlelf into Lake Ontario.
The
[ ^7^ ]
The noife of thefe Fails might be heard
an amazing way. I could plainly dif-
tinguifli them in a calm morning more
than twenty miles. Others have faid that
flt particular times, and when the wind
iits fair, the found of them reaches fifteen
le.igues.
The land about the Falls is exceedingly
hilly and uneven, but the greatert part of
that on the Niagara River is very good,
efpecially for grals and paflurage.
Fort Niagara ftands nearly at the en-
trance of the weft end of Lake Ontario,
and on the eall: part of the Straights of
Niagara. It was taken from the French
in the year 1759, by the forces under the
command of Sir William Johnfon, and
at prefent Is defended by a confiderable
garrifon.
Lake Ontario is the next, and leaft of
the five great Lakes of Canada. Its fitua-
tion is hetv.'een forty-three and forty-five
degrees of latitude, and between feventy-
fix and feventy-nine degrees of weft lon-
gitude. The form of it is nearly oval,
its greateft length being from north-eaft
to fouth-weft, and in circumference, about
fix hundred miles. Near the fouth-eaft
part
[ '71 ]
part it receives the waters of the Ofwego
River, and on the north-eaft difchargcs it-
felf into the River Cataraqii. Not far
from the place where it ifibes, Fort Fron-
tenac formerly flood, which was taken
from the French during the laft war, in
the year i 758, by a fmall army of Pro-
vincials under Colonel Bradftreet.
At the entrance of Ofwego River ftands
a fort of the fame name, garriloned only
at prefent by an inconiiderable party. This
fort was taken in the year 1756 by the
French, when a great part of the garrifon,
which coniiiled of the late Shirley's and
Pepperil's regiments, were maflacred in
cold blood by the favages.
In Lake Ontario are taken many forts
of fifli, among which is the Ofwego Bafs,-
of an excellent flavour, and weighing about
three or four pounds. There is alfo a lort
called the Cat-head or Pout, which are in
general very large, fome of them weighing
eight or ten pounds ; and they are elfeemed
a rare di{h when properly drefled.
On the north-well; parts of this Lake,
and to the louth-eall of Lake Huron, is a
tribe of Indians called the Miliifauges,-
whole town is denommated Toronto, froiTt
the
[ ^7^ I
the lake on which it lies ; but they are
not very numerous. The country about
Lake Ontario, efpecially the more north
and eaftern parts, is compofed of good
land, and in time may make very fiourifh-
ing fettlements.
The Oniada Lake, fituated near the
head of the River Ofwego, receives the
waters of Wood-Creek, which takes its
rife not far from the Mohawks River.
Thefe two lie fo adjacent to each other,
that a jundtion is effefted by fluices at
Fort Stanwix, about t',velve miles from
the mouth of the former. This Lake is
about thirty miles long from eaft to weft,
and near fifteen broad. The country
around it belongs to the Oniada Indi-
ans.
Lake Champlain, the next in fize to
Lake Ontario, and which lies nearly eaft
from it, is about eighty miles in length,
north and fouth, and in its broadeft part
fourteen. It is well ftored with fifli, and
the lands that lie on all the borders of it,
or about its rivers, very good.
Lake George, formerly called by the '
French Lake St. Sacrament, lies to the
fouth- weft of the laft-mentioued lake,
and
[ ^73 ]
and is about thirty-five miles long from
north- call: to fouth-weft, but of no great
breadth. The country around it is very
mountainous, but in the vallies the land
is tolerably good.
When thefe two lakes were firft difco-
vered, they were known by no other
name than that of the Iroquois Lakes ; and
I believe in the firft plans taken of thofe
parts were fo denominated. The Indians
alfb that were then called the Iroquois,
are fince known by the name of the Five
Mohawk Nations, and the Mohawks of
Canada. In the late war, the former,
which coniift of the Onondagoes, the Oni-
tidas, the Senecas, the Tufcarories, and
Iroondocks, fought on the fide of the
Engllfh : the latter, which are called the
Cohnawaghans, and St. Francis Indians,
joined the French.
A vaft tra6l of land that lies between
the two laft- mentioned lakes and Lake
Ontario, was granted in the year 1629
by the Plymouth Company, under a pa-
tent they had received from King James I,
to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, ai^d to Captain
John Mafon, the head of that family, after-
wards diftinguiihed from others of the
fame
C 174 J
fame name by the Mafons of Connedlcut.
The countries Ipecified in this grant are laid
to begin ten miles from the heads of the
rivers that run from the eaft and fouth
into Lake George and Lake Champlain ;
and continuing from thefe in a dired: line'
weftward, extend to the middle of Lake
Ontario; from thence, being bounded by
the Cataraqui, or the River of the Iro-
quois, they take their courfe through Mont-
real, as far as Fort Sorrell, which Ues at
the jundlion of this river with the Rich-
lieu ; and from that point are ijiciofed by
the lail-mentioned river till it returns back
to the two lakes.
This immenfe fpace was granted, by
the name of the Province of Lacouia, to
the aforelaid gentlemen on fpecified con-
ditions, and under certain penalties ; but
'none of thefe amounted^ in cafe of omif-
fion in the fuifillmeiit of any part of
them, to forfeiture, a tine only could be
exaded.
On account of the continual wars to
which thefe parts have been fubje(fl, from
their fituation between the fettlements of
the Englifh, the French, and the Indians,
this grant has been fuffered to lie dormant
by
[ ns' ]
fey the real proprietors. Notwlthftandirrg
which, feveral towns have been fettled
fince the late war, on the borders of I_>ake
Champlain, and grants made to dIfFjrent
people by the governor of New York of
part of thefe territories, which are now
become annexed to that province.
There are a great number of lakes on
the north of Canada, between Labrador,
Lake Superior, and Hudfon's Bay, but
thefe are comparatively fmall. As they
lie out of the track that I purfued, I
ihall only give a fummary account of
them. The mod weil:erly of thefe are the
Lakes Nipifing and Tamifcaming. The
firft lies at the head of the French River,
and runs into Lake Huron ; the other on
the Ottowaw River, which empties itfelf
into the Cataraqui, at Montreal. Thefe
lakes are each about one hundred miles
in circumference.
The next is Lake Miflaffin, on the
head of Rupert's River, that falls into
James's Bay. This Lake is fo irregular
from the large points of land by which
it is interfered on every lide, that it is dif-
ficult either to defcribe its fhape, or to
afcertain
[ 176 ]
afeertain its iize. It however appears on
the whole to be more than two hundred
miles in circumf.rence.
Lake St. John, which is about eighty
miles round, and of a circular form, lies
on the Saguenay River, directly north of
Quebec, and falls into the St. Lawrence,
fbmewhat north-eaft of that city. Lake
Manikouagone lies near the head of the
Black River, which empties itfelf into
the St. Lawrence to the eaftward of the
lafl- mentioned river, near the coaft of La-
brador, and is about fixty miles in circum-
ference. Lake Pertibi, Lake Wincktagan,
Lake Etchelaugon, and Lake Papenoua-
gane, with a number of other fmall lakes,
lie near the heads of the Buftard River to
the north of the St, Lawrence. Many
others, which it is unneceflary to particu-
larize here, are alfo found between the
Lakes Huron and Ontario.
The whole of thofe I have enumerated,
amounting to upwards of twenty, are
within the limits of Canada ; and frora
this account it might be deduced, that
the northern parts of North America,
through thefe numerous inland feas, con-
tain
[ ^n ]
tain a greater quantity of water than any
other quarter of the globe.
In Ocflober 1768 1 arrived at Bofton,
having been abfent from it on this expe-
dition two years and five months, and
during that time travelled near feven thou-
fand miles. From thence, as foon as I
had properly digefted my Journal and
Charts, I fet out for England, to com-
municate the difcoveries I had made, and
to render them beneficial to the kingdom.
But the profecution of my plans for reap-
ing thefe .tidvantages have hitherto been
obrtrudted by the unhappy divilions that
have been fomented between Great Britain
and the Colonies by their mutual enemies.
Should peace once more be reflored, I
doubt not but that the countries I have
defcribed will prove a more abundant fource
of riches to this nation than either its Eaft
or Weft Indian fettlements; and I fliail
not only pride myfelf, but fincerely re-
joice in being the means of pointing out
to it 'iQ valuable an acquiiition.
1. cannot conclude the account of my
exteniive travels, without exprefiing my
gratitude to that beneficent Being who in-
vlhbly proteded me through thofe perils
M which
[ 178 3
which unavoidably attended {o long a tour
among fierce and untutored favages.
At the fame time let me not be accufed
of vanity or prefumption, if I declare that
the motives alledged in the Introduction
of this work, were not the only ones that
induced me to engage in this arduous un-
dertaking. My views were not folely
confined to the advantages that might ac-
crue, either to myfelf, or the community
to which I belonged; but nobler purpofes
contributed principally to urge me on.
The confined flate, both with regard
to civil and religious improvements, in
which fo many of my fellow creatures
remained, arouled within my bofom an
irrefiflible inclination to explore the al-
moft unknown regions which they inha-
bited; and, as a preparatory ftep towards
the introduction of more poliflied manners,
and more humane fentiments, to gain a
knowledge of their language, cuftoms,
and principles.
I confefs that the little benefit too many
of the Indian nations have hitherto re-
ceived from their intercourfe with thofe
who denominate themfelves Chriftians, did
not tend to encourage my charitable pur-
pofes ;
[ ^79 ]
pofes; yet, as many, though not the ge-
nerality, might receive fome benefit from
:the introduction among them of the po-
rlity and religion of the Europeans, with-
out retaining only the errors or vices that
from the depravity and perverfion of their
profeflbrs are unhappily attendant .on thcfe,
I determined to petfevere.
Nor could I flatter myfeif that I fhould
be able to accomplifh alone this great de-
fign; however, I was willing to contri-
bute as much as lay in my power towards
it. In all public undertakings would. every
one do this, and furnifh with. alacrity his
particular ihare towards it, what ilupen-
dous works might not be completed.
It is true that the Indians are not
without fome {qii^q of religion, and fuch
as proves that they worihip the Great
Creator with a degree of purity unknown
to nations who have greater opportunities
of improvement ; but their religious prin-
ciples are far from being fo faultlefs as
defcribed by a learned writer, or unmixed
with opinions and ceremonies that greatly
lefien their excellency in this point. So
that could the dodlrines of genuine and
vital Chriflianity be introduced amo ig
M 2 tnem.
[ »8o ]
them, pure and untainted as it flowed
from the lips of its Divine Inftitutor, it
would certainly tend to clear away that
fuperflitious or idolatrous drofs by which
the rationality of their religious tenets are
obfcured. Its mild and beneficent pre-
cepts would likewife conduce to foften
their implacable difpoiitions, and to refine
their favage manners ; an event moft de-
lirable; and happy Ihall I efteem myfelf
if this publication Ihall prove the means
of pointing out the path by which fa-
lutary inflrudlons may be conveyed to
them, and the converfion, though but of
a few, be the confequence.
Conclufion of the JOURNAL, &c
OF
O F T H E
ORIGIN, MANNERS, CUSTOMS,
RELIGION, AND LANGUAGE
O F T H E
INDIANS.
CHAPTER I.
Of their Origin.
THE means by which America re-
ceived its firft Inhabitants, have,
fince the time of its difcovery by the Eu-
ropean-, been the fubje<S of numberlefs
difquifitions. W?ls I to endeavour to col-
lect the different opinions and reafonings
of the various writers that have taken up
the pen in defence of their conjeflures,
the enumeration would much exceed the
bounds I have prefcribed myfelf, and
M 3 oblige
[ i82 ]
oblige me to be lefs explicit on points oi^
grearer momei^t.
From the obfcurity in which this de-
bate is enveloped, throvigh the total dif-
uie of letters among every nation of In-
dians on this, extenlive contuient, and
the uncertainty of oral tradition at the
diftance of io many ages, I fear, that
even after the mofl minute inveftigation
we fhall not be able to fettle it with any
great degree of certainty. And this ap~
prehenfion will receive additional force,
when it is confidered that the diverfity of
language which is apparently diftmdl be-
tween moft of the Indians, tends to af-
certain that this population was not ef-
fected from one particular country, but
from feveral neighbouring ones, and com-
pleted at different periods.
Moft of the hiflorians or travellers that
have treated on the American Aborigines
difagree in their fentiments relative to
them. Many of the ancients are fup-
pofed to have known that this quarter of
the globe not only exifted, but alfo that
it was inhabited. Plato in his Timasus
has aflerted, that beyond the ifland which
he calls Atalantis, and which according to
his
[ i83 ]
his defcription was fituated in the weftern
Ocean, there were a great number of
other iflands, and behind thofe a vaft
Continent.
Oviedo, a celebrated Spanlfli author of
a much later date, has made no fcruple to
afffVm that the Antilles are the famous
Hefperides fo often mentioned by the
poets; which are at length reftored to the
kings of Spain, the defcendants of King
Hefperus, who lived upwards of three
thoufand years ago, and from whom theie
iflands received their name.
Two other Spaniards, the one. Father
Gregorio Garcia, a Dominican, the other.
Father Jofeph De Acofta, a Jefuit, have
written on the origin of the Americans.
The former^ who had been employed
in the miflions of Mexico and Peru, en-
deavoured to prove from the traditions
of the Mexicans, Peruvians, and others,
which he received on the Ipot, and from
the variety of characters, cuftoms, lan-
guages, and religion obfervable in the dif-
ferent countries of the new world, that
different nations had contributed to the
peopling of it.
M 4 The
[ i84 1
The latter, Father De Acofla, in his
examination of the means by which the
firft Indians of America might have found
a paflage to that continent, difcredits the
conclufions of thofe who have fuppofed
it to be by fea, becaufe no ancient author
has made mention of the compafs : and
concludes, that it muft be either by the
north of Alia and Europe, which adjoin
to each other, or by thofe regions that lie
to the fouthward of the Straights of Ma-
gellan. He alfo rejects the aflertions of
iuch as have advanced that it was peopled
by the Hebrews.
John ' De Laet, a Flemifh writer, has
controverted the opinions of thefe Spanifh
fathers, and of many others who have
written on the fame fubjecSl. The hypo-
thecs he endeavours to eftablifh, is, that
America v/as certainly peopled by the
Scythians or Tartars ; and that the tranf-
rriigration of thefe people happened foon
after the difperlion of Noah's grandfons.
He undertakes to Ihow, that the mod
northern Americans have a greater relem-
blance, not only in the features of their
countenaiices, but aifo in their complexion ^
gnd manner of living, to the Scythians,
Tartars.
i »85 -j
Tartars, and Samoeides, than to any other
nations.
In anfwer to Grotius, who had aflerted
that fome of the Norwegians paiLd into
America by way of Greenland, and over
a vaft conthient, he fays, that it is well
known that Greenland was not difcovered
till the year 964; and both Gomera and
Herrera inform us that the Chichimeques
were fettled on the Lake of Mexico in
721. He adds, that thefe favages, ac-
cording to the uniform tradition of the
Mexicans who difpoffefled them, came from
the country fince called New Mexico,
and from the neighbourhood of California ;
confequently North America muft have
been inhabited many ages before it could
receive any inhabitants from Norway by
way of Greenland.
It is no lefs certain, he obferves, that
the real Mexicans founded their empire in
902, after having fubdued the Chichi-
meques, the Otomias, and other bar-
barous nations, who had taken pofleffion
of the country round the Lake of Mexico,
and each of whom fpoke a language pe-
culiar to themfelves. The real Mexicans
are likewjfe fuppofed to come from fome
gf
[ i86 ]
of the countries that lie near California^
and that they performed their journey for
the raofl: part by land ; of courfe they
could not come from Norway.
De Laet further adds, that though
fome of the inhabitants of North America
may hav^e entered it from the north-weft,
yet J as it is related by Pliny and fomc
©ther writers, that on many of the iflands
near the weftern coaft of Africa, parti-
cularly on the Canaries, fome ancient edi-
fices were- (ten, it is highly probable from
their being now delerted, that the inha-
bitants may have palled over to America ;
the pailage being neither long nor diffi-
cult. This migration, according to the
calculation of thofe authors, muft have
happened more than two thoufand years
sgo, at a time when the Spaniards were
much troubled by the Carthaginians ;
from whom having obtained a knowledge
of Navigation, and the conftru6tion of
iliips, they might have retired to the
Antilles, by the way of the weftern ides,
which were exa6lly half way on their
voyage.
He thinks alfo that Great Britain, Ire-
land, and the Orcades were extremely
proper
[ '87 ]
proper to admit of a fimilar conje6Vure«
As a proof, he inferts the following paf-
lage from the Hiftory of Wales, written
by Dr. David Powel in the year 1 1 70.
This hiftorian fays, that Madoc, one
of the fons of Prince Owen Gwynnith,
being difgufted at the civil wars which
broke out between his brothers, after the
death of their father, fitted out feveral
veflels, and having provided them with
every thing necefl'ary for a long voyage,
went in queft of new lands to the weft-
ward of Ireland; there he difcovered very
fertile countries, but deftitute of inha-
bitants ; when landing part of his people,
he returned to Britain, where he raifed
new levies, and afterwards tranfported
them to his colony.
The Flemifh Author then returns to
the Scythians, between whom and the
Americans he draws a parallel. He ob-
ferves that feveral nations of them to the
north of the Cafpian Sea led a wandering
life; which, as well as many other of
their cuftoms, and way of living, agrees
in many circumftances with the Indians
of America. And though the refemblaiices
are not abfolutely perfect, yet the emi-^
grants,
I i88 ]
grants, even before they left their own
country, differed from each other, and
went not by the fame name. Their
change of abode affe6ted what remained.
He further fays, that a fimilar Hke-
nefs exifts between feveral American na-
tions, and the Samoeides who are fettled,
itccording to the Ruffian accounts, on
the great River Oby. And it is more
natural, continues he, to fuppofe that
Colonies of thefe nations pafled over to
America by croffing the icy fea on their
fledges, than for the Norwegians to travel
all the way Grotius has marked out for
them.
This writer makes many other re-
marks that are equally fenfible, and which
appear to be juft; but he intermixes
tvith thefe Ibme that are not fo well-
founded.
Emanuel de Moraez, a Portugeufe, in
his hirtory of Brazil, afferts that America
has been wholly peopled by the Cartha-
ginians and Ifraelites. He brings as a
proof of this affertion the difcoveries the
former are known to have made at a great
diftance bevond the coail: of Africa. The
progrcfs of which being put a flop to by
the
[ i89 1
the fenate of Carthage, thofe who hap-
pened to be then in the newly difcovered
countries, being cut off from all commu-
nication with their countrymen, and def-
titute of many neceffaries of life, fell
into a flate of barbarifm. As to the If-
raelites, this author thinks that nothing
but circumcifion is wanted in order to
conftitute a perfedl refemblance between
them and the Brazilians.
George De Hornn, a learned Dutch-
man, has likewife written on this fubjedt.
He fets out with declaring, that he does
not believe it poffible America could have
been peopled before the flood, confidering
the fhort fpace of time which elapfed be-
tween the creation of the world and that
memorable event. In the next place he
lays it down as a principle, that after the
deluge, men and other terreftrial animals
penetrated into that country both by fea
and by land; fome through accident,
and fome from a formed defign. That
birds got thither by flight ; which they
were enabled to do by refting on the
rocks and iflands that are fcattered about
in the Ocean.
He
[ I90 ]
He further obferves, that wild beafls
may have found a free paflage by land ;
and that if we do not meet with horfes or
cattle (to which he might have added ele-
phants, camels, rhinoceros, and beafts of
many other kinds) it is becaufe thofe na-
tions that pafled thither, were either not
acquainted with their ufe, or had no con-
venience to fupport them.
Having totally excluded many nations
that others have admitted as the probable
firft fettlers of America, for which he
gives fubftantial reafons, he fuppofes that
it began to be peopled by the north ; and
maintains, that the primitive colonies
fpread themfelves by the means of the
ifthmus of Panama through the whole
extent of the continent.
He believes that the firft founders of
the Indian Colonies were Scythians. That
the Phoenicians and Carthaginians after-
wards got footing in America acrofs the
Atlantic Ocean, and the Chinefe by way
of the Pacific. And thac other nations
might from time to time have landed
there by one or other of thefe ways, or
might pofTioly have been thrown on the
coait by tempefts : fmce, through the
whole
t 191 ]
whole extent of that Contnient, both in
its northern and fouthern parts, we meet
with undoubted marks of a mixture of
the northern nations with thofe who have
come from other places. And laftly, that
Ibme Jews and Chriftians might have been
carried there by fuch hke events, but that
this muft have happened at a time when
the whole of the new world was already
peopled.
After all, he acknowledges that great
difficulties attend the determination of the
queflion. Thefe, he fays, are occafioned
in the firil place by the imperfect know-
ledge we have of the extremities of the
globe, towards the north and fouth pole ;
and in the next place to the havock
which thf Spaniards, the firfl difcoverers
of the new World, made among its moft
ancient monuments ; as witnefs the great
double road betwixt Quito and Cuzco,
an undertaking fo ftupendous, that even
the moft magnificent of thole executed
by the Romans cannot be compared to
it.
He fuppofes alfo another migration of
the Phoenicians, than thofe already men-
tioned, to have taken place ; and this was
during
t 192 J
during a three years voyage made by the
Tyrian fleet in the fervice of King Solo-
mon. He aflerts on the authority of Jo-
fephus, that the port at which this em-
barkation was made lay in the Mediterra-
nean. The fleet, he adds, went in quell
of elephants teeth and peacocks to the
weflern Coaft of Africa, which is Tarlifh ;
then to Ophir for gold, which is Haite,
or the ifland of Hifpanlola ; and in the
latter opinion he is fupported by Colum-
bus, who, when he difcovered that ifland,
thought he could trace the furnaces in
which the gold was refined.
To thefe migrations which preceded the
Chrifllan ^ra, he adds many others of a
later date from different nations, but thefe
I have not time to enumerate. For the
fame reafon I am obliged to pafs over
numberlefs writers on this fubjed; and
fhall content myfelf with only giving the
fentiments of two or three more.
The firfl: of thefe is Pierre De Charle-
voix, a Frenchman, who, in his journal
of a voyage to North America, made fo
lately as the year 1720, has recapitulated
the opinions of a variety of authors on
this head, to which he has fubjoined hU
own
r 193 ]
own conjedures. But the latter cannot
without fome difficulty be extraded, as
they are io interwoven with the pafiliges
he has quoted, that it requires much at-
tention to difcriminate them.
He feems to allow that America might
have received its firft inhabitants from
Tartary and Hyrcanla. This he con-
firms, by obferving that the lions and
tigers which are found in the former,
muft have come from thofe countries, and
whole pafiage ferves for a proof that the
two hemiipheres join to the northward of
Afia. He then draws a corroboration of
this argument, from a ftory he fays he
has often heard related by Father Grol-
lon, a French jefult, as an undoubted mat-
ter of fadt.
This Father, after having laboured fome
time in the miffions of New France,
pafled over to thofe of China. One day
as he was travelling in Tartary, he met
a Huron woman v«^hom he had former-
ly known in Canada. He aiked her by
what adventure fhe had been carried into
a country fo diftant from her own. She
made anfwer, that having been taken in
N war.
[ 194 ]
war, fhe had been conducted from nation
to nation, till (he had reached the place at
which fhe then was.
Monlieur Charlevoix fays further, that
he had been affured, another Jefuit, pair-
ing through Nantz in his return from
China, had related much fuch another af-
fair of a Spanifh woman from Florida.
She alfo had been taken by certain In-
dians, and given to thoie of a more dif-
tant country ; and by thefe again to another
nation, till having thus been fucceffively
palled from country to country, and travel-
ed through regions extremely cold, fhe at
laft found herfelf in Tartary. Here fhe
had married a Tartar, who had attended
the conquerors into China, where fhe was
then fettled.
He acknowledges as an allay to the
probability of thefe flories, that thofe
who had failed fartheft to the eaftward
of Afia, by purfuing the Coaft of Jefib or
Kamtfchatka, have pretended that they
had perceived the extremity of this conti-
nent ; and from thence have concluded
that there could not polfibly be any com-
munication by land. But he adds that
Francis
[ ^95 ]
Francis Guella, a Spaniard, Is faid to have
afT^rted, that this feparation is no more
than a ftraight, about one hundred miles
over, and that fome late voyages of the
Japoncfe give grouuda to think that this
flraight is only a bay, above which there
is a paffige over land.
He goes on to obferv^e, that though
there are few wild beads to be met with
in North America, except a kind of ti-
gers without fpots, which are found in
the country of the Iroquoife, yet towards
the tropics there are lions and real ti-
gers, which, notwithftanding, might have
come from Hyrcania and Tartary ; for as
by advancing gradually fouthward they
met with climates more agreeable to their
natures, they have in time abandoned the
northern countries.
He quotes both Solinus and Pliny to
prove that the Scythian Anthropophagi
once depopulated a great extent of coun-
try, as far as the promontory Tabin ; and
alio an author of later date, Mark Pol, a
Venetian, who, he fays, tells us, that to
the north-eaft of China and Tartary there
are vaft uninhabited countries, which
might be fufficient to confirm any conjec-
N 2 . ture5
[ '96 J
tnres concerning the retreat of a great num-
ber of Scythians into America.
To this he adds, that we find in the an-
tients the names of fome of thefe nations.
Pliny fpeaks of the Tabians ; Sohnus
mentions the Apiileans, who had for
neighbours the Maffagetes, whom PUny
fmce affures us to have entirely difap-
peared. Ammianus Marcellinus exprelly
tells us, that the fear of the Anthropo-
phagi obliged feveral of the inhabitants of
thofe countries to take refuge elfewhere.
From all thefe authorities Monf. Charle-
voix concludes, that there is at leaft room
to conjecture that more than one nation
in America had a Scythian or Tartarian
original.
He finiilies his remarks on the authors
he has quoted, by the following oblerva-
tions : It appears to me that this contro-
verfy may be reduced to the two follow-
ing articles ; firfl:, how the new world
might have been peopled ; and fecondly,
by whom, and by what means it has
been peopled.
Nothing, he aflerts, may be more
eafily anfwered than the full:. America
might have been peopled as the three
other
[ ^n ]
'other parts of the world have been. Many
"di-tficultics have been formed on this fub-
jetl, whieh have been deemed infolvable,
but which are far from being fo. The
inhabitants of bojh hcmifpheres are cer-
taiaiy the defceiidants of the lame father ;
the com:Tion parent of mankind received
an cxprels command from heaven to people
thj whole world, and accordingly it has
been peopled.
To bring this about it v/as necelTary
to overcOiHe all difficulties that lay in
the way, and they have been got over.
W.re theie difficulties greater with re-
fpe6l to peopling the extremities of Afia,
Africa, and Europe, or the traniporting
men into the iflands which lie at a con-
fiderable diftance from thofe continents,
than to pais over into America ? certainly
not.
Navigation, which has arrived at fo
great perfe*5tion within thefe three or four
centuries, might poffibly have been more
perfect in thofe early ages than at this day.
Who can believe that Noah and his im-
mediate defcendants knew lefs of this art
than we do ? That the builder and pilot
of the largefb fhip that ever was, a (hip
N 3 that
[ '98 ]
that was formed to traverfe an unbounded
ocean, and had i'o many fhoals and quick-
fands to guard againfb, fhould be ignorant
of, or fhould not have communicated to
thofe of his defcendants who furvived him,
and by whofe means he was to execute the
order of the Great Creator ; I fay, who
can believe he fliould not have communi-
cated to them the art of failing upon an
ocean, which was not only more calm and
pacific, but at the fame time confined with-
in its ancient limits ?
Admitting this, how eafy is it to pafs,
exclufive of the pailage already defcribed,
by land from the coall: of Africa to Brazil,
from the Canaries to the Weftern Iflands,
and from them to the Antilles ? From the
Britilh Ifles, or the coaft of France, to
Newfoundland, the pafiage is neither long
nor difficult ; I might lay as much of that
from China to Japan ; from Japan, or the
Philiipines, to tlie liles Mariannes ; and
from thence to Mexico.
There are iflands at a confiderable dif-
tance from the contiiient of Alia, where
we have not been furprized to find inha-
bitants, why then fiiould we wonder to
meet with people in America ? Nor can
it
[ 199 ]
It be imagined that the grandfons of Noab,
when they were obHged to feparate and
fpread themfelves In conformity to the de-
iigns of God, over the whole earth, fhould
find It abfolutely Impoffible to people al-
moft one half of it.
I have been more copious In my ex-
tracts from this author than I intended, as
his reafons appear to be folid, and many
of his obfervatioiis juft. From this en-
comium, however, I mufl exclude the
ftories he has Introduced of the Huron and
Floridan women, which I think I might
venture to pronounce fabulous.
I (hall only add, to give my Readers a
more comprehenfive view of Monf. Char-
levoix's difi'ertation, the method he pro-
pofes to come at the truth of what we
are in fe^rch of.
The only means by which this can be
done, he fays. Is by comparing the lan-
guages of the Americans with the different
nations, from whence we might fuppole
they have peregrinated. If we compare
the former with thofe words that are con-
(idered as primitives. It might poflibly fet
us upon fome happy difcovery. And this
way of ^fcending to the original of na-
N 4 tions.
[ 200 ]
tions, which is by far the leafl: equivocal,
is not fo difficult as might be imagiiud.
We have had, aiid ftill have, travellers
and miilionari^-^s who have attained the
languages that are Ipoken in all the pro-
vinces of the new v/orid ; it would only
be neceffary to make a coUeillon of their
grammars and vocabularies, and to col-
late them with the dead and living lan-
guages of the old world, that pafs for ori-
ginals, and the limllarity might eafily be
traced. Even the different diale^ls, in fpite
of the alterations they have undergone,
flill retain enough of the mother tongue
to furniili conliderable lights.
Any enquiry into the manners, cuf-
toms, religion, or traditions of the Ame-
ricans, in order to difcover by that means
their origin, he thinks would prove fal-
lacious. A difquifition of that kind, he
obferves, is only capable of producing a
falfe light, more likely to dazzle, and to
make us wander from the right path, than
to lead us with certainty to the point pro-
pofed.
Ancient traditions are effaced from the
minds of fuch as either have not, or for
feveral ages have been without, tliofe helps
that
[ 20I ]
that ar? necelliiry to preferve them. And
in this fituation is full oiu half of tlie
world. New events, and a n«w arrange-
ment of things, give rife to new tradi-
tions, which effice the former, and are
themfelves effaced in turn. Aft':-r one or
two centuries have pafit-d, there no longer
remai:! any traces of the firff traditions ;
and thus we are involved in a ftate of un-
certainty.
He concludes with the following re-
marks, among many others. Unfoiefeen
accidents, tempefts, and Ihipwrecks, have
certainly contributed to people every ha-
bitable part of the world : and ought we
to wonder, after this, at perceiving certain
relemblaiices, both of perfons and man-
ners, between nations that are moil re-
mote from each other, when we find ilich
a difference between thole that border on
one another ? As we are deftitute of hil^
torical monuments, there is nothing, I re-
peat jt, but a knowledge of the primitive
languages that is capable of throwing any
light upon thele clouds of impenetrable
darknefs.
By this enquiry we fhould at leaft be
fatisfied,
[ 202 ]
fatisfied, among that proc'iglous number
of various nations inhabiting America,
and dit]fering (6 much in la iguages froiTi
each other, which are thole who make
•ufe of words totally and entirely dif-
ferent from thole of the old world, and
who confequcntly muft be reckoned to
have pafled over to America in the ear-
lieft ages, and thoie who, from the analogy
of their language with fuch as are at pre-
fent ufed in the three other parts of the
globe, leave room to judge that their mi^
gration has been m.ore recent, and which
ought to be attributed to fhipwrecks, or
to fome accident fimilar to thofe which
Lave been fpoken of in the courfe of this
treatife.
1 ihall only add the opinion of one
author more before I give my own fenti-
toents on the fubje6l, and that is of James
Adair, Elq; who refided forty years
among the Indians, and publhhed the hif-
tory of them in the year 1772. In his
learned and lyftematical hillory of thole
nations, inhabiting the weftern parts of
the moft fouthern of the American colo-
liies, this gentleman without hefitation
pro-
[ 2^3 ]
pronounces that the American Aborigines
are deicended from the Ifraelltes, either
whilft they were a maritime power, or
foon after their general captivity.
This delcent he endeavours to prove
from their rehgious rites, their civil and
martial cuftoms, their marriages, their
funeral ceremonies, their mann rs, lan-
guage, traditions, and from a vari. ty of
other particulars. A; id fo compete is his
conviction on this head, that hd fancies
he finds a ptrfcd: and ihdiiputable fimili-
tude in each. Through all thefe I have
not time to follow hm., and fliall there-
fore only give a few extracts to fliow oa
what foundation he builds his conjectures,
and what degree ot credit he is entitled to
on this point.
He begins with obferving, that though
fome have fuppoled the Americans to be
deicended from tne Chinefe, yet neither
their religion, laws, or cuftoms agree
in the leaft wicli thofe of the Chinefe ;
which fufficiently proves that they are not
of this line. Betides, as our bed fhips
are now almoll: half a year in failing for
China (our author does not here recoUedl
that this IS froiii a high northern latitude,
acrofs
[ 204 ]
acrofs the Line, and then back again
greatly to the northward of it, and not di-
2-e£lly athwart the Pacific Ocean for only-
one hundred and eleven degrees) or from
thence to Europe, it is very unlikely they
fliouid attempt fuch dangerous difcoveries,
with meir fuppofed fmalh veilels, againft
rapid currents, and in dark and lickly
Monfoons.
He further remarks, that this is more
particularly improbable, as there is rea-
fon to believe that this nation v/as unac-
quainted with the ufe of the loadftone
to diredl their courfe. China, he fays, is
about eight thoufand miles diflant from
the American continent, which is twice
as far as acrofs the Atlantic Ocean. And
we are not informed by any ancient writer
of their maritime fkill, or lo much as
any inclination that way, befides fmall
coafting voyages. The winds blow like-
wife, with little variation from eafl: to
weft wiirhin the latitudes thirty and odd,
north and fouth ; and therefore thefe
could not drive them on the American
coaft, it lying directly contrary to fuch
a courfe.
Neither
[ 205 1
Neither could perfons, according to
this writer's account, fail to America from
the north by the way of Tartary or An-
cient Scythia ; that, from its fituation,
never having been or can be a maritime
power ; and it is utterly impracticable, he
fays, for any to come to America by iea
from that quarter. Befides, the remain-
ing traces of their religious ceremonies
and civil and martial cuftoms are quite op-
poiite to the like veftiges of the Old Scy-
thians. Even in the moderate northern
climates there is not to be feen the leaft
trace of any ancient ftately buildings, or
of any thick fettlements, as are faid to re-
main in the leis healthy regions of Peru
and Mexico. And feveral of the Indian
nations allure us, that they crofled the
Miflifiippi before they made their prefent
northern fettlements i which, conneited
with the former arguments, he concludes
will fufEciently explode that weak opinion
of the American Aborigines being lineal-
ly defcended from the Tartars or ancient
Scythians.
Mr. Adair's reafons for fuppofing that
the Americaiis derive their origin from the
Jews are,
Firil:,
[ zo6 ]
FIrft, becaufe they are divided into
tribes, and have chiefs over them as the
Ilraelites had.
Secondly, becaufe, as by a flri£l per*
manent divine precept, the Hebrew na-
tion were ordered to worfliip, at Jerufa-
lem, Jehovah the true and Hving God, fo
do the Indians, flihng him Yohewah.
Tiie ancient Heathens, he adds, it is well
known worfhipped a pluraUty of gods,
but the Indians pay their religious de-
voirs to the Great beneficent fupreme holy
Spirit of Fire, who refides, as they think,
above the clouds, and on earth alfo
with unpolluted people. They pay no
adoration to images, or to dead perfons,
neither to the celeftial luminaries, to evil
fpirits, nor to any created beings what-
ever.
Thirdly, becaufe, agreeable to the theo-
cracy or divine government of Ifrael, the
Indians think the deity to be the imme-
diate head of their ftate.
Fourthly, becaufe, as the Jews believe
in the miniftration of angels, the Indians
alfo believe that the higher regions are in-
habited by good fpirits.
Fifthly,
[ 207 ]
Fifthly, becaufe the Indian language
and dialects appear to have the very idiom
and genius of the Hebrew. Their words
and fentences being expreffive, concife,
emphatical, fonorous, and bold ; and
often, both in letters, and lignification,
are fy nonimous with the Hebrew lan-
guage.
Sixthly, becaufe they count their time
after the manner of the Hebrews.
Seventhly, becaufe in conformity to, or
after the manner of the Jews, they have
their prophets, high-priefts, and other re-
ligious orders.
Eighthly, becaufe their feftlvals, fails,
and religious rites have a great refemblance
to thofe of the Hebrews.
Ninthly, becaufe the Indians, before
they go to war, have many preparatory
ceremonies of purification and fafling, like
what is recorded of the Ifraelltes.
Tenthly, becaufe the fame tafte for
ornaments, and the fame kind are made
ufe of by the Indians, as by the He-
brews.
Thefe and many other arguments of a
fimllar nature, Mr. Adair brings in fup-
port of his favourite lyflem ; but I (hou^
imagine,
[ 2o8 ]
Imagine, that if die Lidiaiis are really de-
rived from the Hebrews,, among their re-
ligious ceremonies, on which he chiefly
feems to build his hypothecs, the princi-
pal, that of circumcifion, would never
have been laid afide, and its very remem-
brance obliterated.
Thus numerous and diverfe are the
opinions of thofe who have hitherto writ-
ten on this fubjed ! I fliall not, how-
ever, either endeavour to reconcile them,
or to point out the errors of each, but
proceed to give my own fentiments on
the origin of the Americans ; which are
founded on conclulions drawn from the
moft rational arguments of the writers
I have mentioned, and from my own
obfervations ; the confiftency of thefe I
fhall leave to the judgment of my Read-
ers.
The better to introduce my conje61:ures
on this head, it is necefiary firft to afcer-
tain the diftances between America and
thofe parts of the habitable globe that ap-
proach neareft to it.
The Continent of America, as far as
we can judge from all the refearches that
have been made near the poles, appears
to
[ 209 ]
to be entirely feparated from the other
quarters of the world. That part of Eu-
rope which approaches nearefi: to it, is
the coaft of Greenland, lying in about
leventy degrees of north latitude ; and
which reaches within twelve degrees of
the coaft of Labrador, fituated on the
^orth-eaft borders of this continent. The
coaft of Guinea is the nearefi part of
Africa ; which lies about eighteen hun-
dred and iixty miles north-eail: from the
Brazils. The molt eaflern coail: of Aiia,
which extends to the Korean Sea on the
north of China, projects north-eaft through
eaftern Tartary and Kamfchatka to Si-
beria, in about fixty degrees of north lati-
tude* Towards which the weftern coafts of
America, from California to the Straights
of Annian, extend nearly north-weft, and
lie in about forty-fix degrees of the fame
latitude.
Whether the Continent of America
ftretches any farther north than thefe
ftraights, and joins to the eaftern parts
of Afia, agreeable to what has been af-
ferted by fome of the writers I have
quoted, or whether the lands that have
been difcovered in the intermediate parts
O are
[ 216 ]
are only an archipelago of iflands verging
towards the oppollte continent, is not yet
afcertained.
It being, however, certain that there
are many conliderable iflands which li6
between the extremities of Afia and Ame-
rica, viz. Japon, Yefo or Jedfo, Gama's
Land, Behring's Ille, with many others
difcovered by Tfchirikow, and befides
thefe, from fifty degrees north there ap-
pearing to be a ciufter of iflands that reach
as far as Siberia, it is probable from their
proximity to America, that it received its
firfl: inhabitants from them*
This conclufion is the mofl: rational I
am able to draw, fuppofing that fmce the
Aborigines got footing on this continent^
no extraordinary or fudden change in the
pofltion or furface of it has taken place,
from inundations, earthquakes, or any re-
volutions of the earth that we are at pre-
fent unacquainted with.
To me it appears highly improbable
that it fliould have been peopled from dif-
ferent quarters, acrofs the Ocean, as others
have aflerted. From the tize of the fhips^
made ufe of in thofe early ages, and the
want of the compafs, it cannot be fup-
poled
[ 211 ]
f ofed that any maritime nation would by
choice venture over the unfathomable
Ocean in fearch of diftant continents*
Had this however been attempted, or had
America been firfl: accidentally peopled
from fhips freighted with pafiengers of
both fexes which were driven by ftrong
eafterly winds acrofs the Atlantic, thefe
fettlers muft have retained fome traces of
the language of the country from whence
they migrated ; and this iince the difco**
very of it by the Europeans muft have
been made out. It alfo appears extraor-
dinary that feveral of thefe accidental mi^
grations, as allowed by fome, and thefe
from different parts, fhould have taken
place.
Upon the wholcj after the mofl cri^
tical enquiries, and the maturefl delibera-
tion, I am of opinion, that America re-
ceived its firft inhabitants from the north-
eafl, by way of the great archipelago juft
mentioned, and from thefe alone. BuE
this might have been efFe£led at different
times, and from various parts : from Tar-
tary, China, Japon, or Kamfchatka, the
inhabitants of thefe places refembling each
other in colour, features, and ihape .;
O 2 and
[ ^I^ ]
?.iid \vlio, before fome of them acquired
a knowledge of the arts and fc'iences,
might have Hkewife refembled each other
in their manners, cuftoms, reUgion, and
hinguagek
The only difterence between the Chi-
nefe nation and tlie Tartars lies in the
cultivated flate of the one, and the un-
polilhed fituation of the others. The
former have become a commercial peo-
ple, and dwell in houfes formed into re-
gular towns and cities ; the latter live
chiefly in tents, and rove about in dif-
ferent hords, without any fixed abode.
Nor can the long and bloody wars thefe
two nations have been engaged in, exter-
minate their hereditary limilitude. The
prefent family of the Chinefe emperors is
of Tartarian extra*5lion ; and if they wei'e
not ieniible of fome claim befide that
ofconqueft, fo numerous a people would
fcarcely lit quiet under the dominion of
iirangers.
It is very evident that fome of the man-
ners and cuftoms of the American Indi-
ans refemble thofe of the Tartars ; and
I make no doubt but that in fome future
iiera, and this not a very diflant one, it
will
[ 213 ]
will be reduced to a certainty, that during
foRie qf the wars between the Tartars and
the Chinefe, a part of the inhabitants of
the northern provinces were driven from
their native country, and took refuge in
fome of the illes before-mentioned, and
from thence found tlieir way into Amsrica.
At different periods each nation might
prove vit5tprious, and t|re conquered by
turns fly before their conquerors ; and
fi'orfi hence might arife the hmiUtude of
the Indians to all thefe people, and that
animohty which exiif s between i'o many
of their tribes.
It appears plainly to me that a great (i-
rr)ilarity between the Indian and Chinefe
is cpnfpicuous in that particular cuflom
of Ihaviug or plucking off the hc^ir, and
leaving only a Iniall tuft on the crown of
the head. This mode is laid to have been
enjoined by the Tartarian emperors on
tjreir accefiion to the throne of China, and
confequent]y is a further proof that this
cufiom was in ufe among the Tartars ; to
whom as well as the Chinefe, the Ameri-
cans might be indebted for it.
Many words alfo are ufed both by the
Chinefe and Indians, which have a re^
O ^ lembl,an9e
[ ^14- J
femblance to each other, not only in then"
found, but their lignification. The Chi-
nefe call a flave, fhungo ; and the Nau»
dowefiie Indians, whofe language from their
little intercourfe with the Europeans is
the lead corrupted, term a dog, fhungufh.
The former denominate one fpecies of their
tea, Ihoufong; the latter call tiieir tobacco,
llioufaffau. Many other of the words
iifed by the Indians contain the fyllables
che, chaw, and chu, after the dialedl of
the Chinefe,
There probably might be found a fimi-'
lar connedlion between the language of
the Tartars and the American Aborigines,
were we as well acquainted with it as we
are, from a commercial intercourfe, with
that of the Chinefe.
1 am confirmed in thefe conjectures, by
the accounts of Kamfchatka publiflicd a
few years ago by order of the Emprefs of
Ruffia. The author of which fays, that
the fea which divides that peninfula from
America is full of ifiands ; and that the
diftance between Tfchukotikoi-Nofs, a pro-
montory which lies at the eaftern extre-
mity of that country, and the coaft of
America, is iiot more than two degrees
and
[ 2.S ]
nnd a half of a great circle. He further
fays, that there is the greateft rcafoii to
fuppofe that Alia and America once joined
at this place, as the coafts of both con-
tinents appear to have been broken into
capes and bays, which anfwer each other ;
more efpecially as the inhabitants of this
part of both refemble each other in their
perfons, habits, cuftoms, and food. Their
language, indeed, he obferves, does not
appear to be the fame, but then the in-
habitants of each diftridl in Kamfchatka
fpeak a language as different from each
other, jis frorn that fpoken on the oppolite
coaft. Thefe obfervations, to which he
adds, the iimilarity of the boats of the in-
habitants of each coaft, and a remark that
the natives of this part of America are
wholly Grangers to wine and tobacco,
which he looks upon as a proof that they
have as yet had no communication with
the natives of Europe, he fiys, amount to
little lefs than a demonftration that Ame-
rica was peopled from this part of Afia.
The limits of my prefent undertaking
will not permit me to dwell any longer.
on this fubjeft, or to enumerate any other
propfs in favour of my hypothecs. I am
O 4 how-
[ 2,6 ]
however fo thoroughly convinced of the
certahity of it, and fo defirous have I
been to obtain every teftimony which can
be procured in its fupport, that I once
made an offer to a private fociety of
gentlemen, who were curious in Inch
refearches, and to whom I had communi-
cated my fentiments on this point, that
I would undertake a journey, on receiving
fuch fupplies as were needful, through
the north-eaft parts of Europe and Alia to
the interior parts of America, and from
thence to England ; making, as I pro-
ceeded, fuch obfervations both on the lan^
guages and manners of the people with
whom I fliould be converlant, as might
tend to illull:rate the doctrine 1 have here
laid down, and to fatisfy the curiolity of
the learned or inquifitive; but as this pro-
pofal was judged rather to require a na-
tional than a private lupport, it was not
carried Jnto execution.
I am happy to find, iince I formed the
foregoing concluiions, that they corre-
ipond with the fentiments of that great
and learned hiflorian Do6tor Robertlbn ;
and though, with him, I acknowledge
that the invelllgation, from its nature, is
fo
[ 217 ]
fo oblcure and Intricate that the conjec-
tures I have made can only be confide red as
conjedlures, and not indifputable couclu-
fions, yet they carry with them a greater
degree of probabihty than the fuppoiitlons
of thofe who aflert that this continent was
peopled from another quarter.
One of the Do6lor's quotations from
the Journals of Behring and Tichirikow,
who failed from Kamfchatka about the
year 1741 in queft of the New World,
appears to carry great weight with it,
^nd to afford our concluiions firm fup-
port : " Thefe commanders having (hap-
*' ed their courfe towards the eafl, dil-
" covered land, v»'hich to therq appeared
to be part of the Arnerican continent ;
and according to their obfervations, it
feems to be fituated within a few de-
jrrees of the north-wefl coaft of Cali-
fornia. They had there fome inter-
courfe with the inhabitants, who feem-
ed to them to refemble the North
Americans ; as they prefented to the;
Ruffians the Calumet or Pipe of Peace,
^' which is a iy mbol of friendfhip uni-
^^ verfal among the people of North
" America,
€i
a
[ 2i8 ]
^^ America, and an ufage of arbitrary in*
" ftitution peculiar to them."
One of this incomparable writer's own
arguments in fupport of his hypothefis is
alfo urged with great judgment, and ap-
pears to be nearly conclulive. He fays.
We may lay it down as a certain prin-^
ciple in this enquiry, that America
was not peopled by any nation of the
ancient continent, which had made con-
fiderable progrefs in civilization. The
inhabitants of the New World were \\\
a feats of fociety fo extremely rude, as
to be unacquainted with thofe arts
Avhich are the hrfl: efiays of human in-«
genuity in its advance towards improve-
ment. Even the moft cultivated na-
tions of America were ftrangers to many
of thofe fimple inventions, which were
almoft coeval with fociety in other
parts of the world, and were known
in the carlieft periods of civil life.
From this it is manifefl that the tribes
which originally migrated to America,
came (jiT from nations which muft
have b^en no lefs barbarous than their
pofterity, at the time when they were
^' firfl
[ 219 ]
^* firft difcovered by the Europeans. If
'' ever the ufe of iron had been known
'* to the favages of America, or to their
" progenitors, if ever they had employed
" a plough, a loom, or a forge, the uti-
M litity of thefe inventions would have
*' preferved them, and it is impoffible
*' that they Hiould have been abandoned
f or forgotten."
CHAPTER II.
Of their Persons, Press, ^
ROM the firft fettlement of thr;
French in Canada, to the conqueit
of it by the Englifh in 1760, feveral of
that nation, who had travelled into the in-
terior parts of North America, either to
trade with the Indians, or to endeavour
to make converts of them, have publi(h;d
accounts of their cuiloms, manners, &c.
Tiie principal of thefe are Father Louis
Jlennipin, Monf. Charlevoix, and the Ba-
ron Le Hontan. The firft, many years
ago, publiflied fome very judicious re^
marks.
i 220 ]
marks, which he was the better enabled
to do by the affiftance he received fror^i
the maps and diaries of the unfortunate
Monf De la Salle, who was affaflinate^
whilfh he was on his travels, by fome of
his own party. That gentleman's journals
falling into Father Hennipin's hands, he
was enabled by them to publifh many
interefling particulars relative to the In-
dians. But in fome refpeds he fell very
ihort of that knowledge which it was in
his power to have attained from his long
refidence among them. Nor was he al-
ways (as has been already obferved) exad;
in his calculations, or jufl: in the intelli-
gence he has given us.
The accounts publifhed by the other
two, particularly thofe of Charlevoix, are
very erroneous in the geographical parts,
and many of the ftories told by the Baron
are mere delulions.
Some of tb.e Jehiits, who heretofore
travelled into thcle parts, have alfo writ-
ten on this lubjc^l ; but as few, if any,
of their works have been tranilated into
the EngTiili language, the generality of
Readers are not b.^nehtted by them; and,
in deed J
[ 221 ]
indeed, had this been done, they would
have reaped but few advantages from them,
as they have chiefly confined their obfer-
vations to the reHgious principles of the
(avages, and the fleps taken for their con-
verfion.
Since the conquefh of Canada, fome of
our own countrymen, who have lived
among the Indians, and learned their lan-
guage, have publifhed their obfervations ;
however as their travels have not extended
to any of the interior parts I treat of, but
have only been made among the nations
that border on our lettlements, a know-
ledge of the genuine and uncontaminated
cuftoms and manners of the Indians could
not have been acquired by them.
The fouthern tribes, and thofe that have
held a conilant intercourfe with the French
or Englifli, cannot have preferved their
manners or their cuftoms in their original
purity. They could not avoid acquiring
the vices with the language of thofe they
converfed with ; and the frequent intoxi-
cations they experienced through the bane-
ful juices introduced among them by the
Europeans, have completed a total altera-
tion in their characters.
In
t 222 5
In fnch as thefe, a confufed medley of
principles or ufages are only to be ob-
lerved ; their real and unpolluted culloms
could be feen among thofe nations alone
that have held but little communications
with the provinces. Thefe I found in the
north- well: parts, and therefore flatter my-
felf that I am able to give a more juft ac-
count of the cuftoms and manners of the
Indians, in their ancient purity, than any
that has been hitherto publiihed. I have
made obfervations on thirty nations, and
though mofl of thefe have differed in their
languages, there has appeared a great fimi-
larity in their manners, and from thele
have I endeavoured to extraft the follow-
ing remarks.
As I do not propofe to give a regular
and connected fyflem of Indian concerns,
but only to relate fuch particulars of their
manners, cufloms^ &c. as I thought moH
worthy of notice, and which intefere as
little as poffible with the accounts given
by other writers, I mufl beg my Readers
to excufe their not being arranged fyfte-
matically, or treated of in a more copi-
ous manner.
The
[ 223 ]
The Indian nations do not appear ta
hie to differ fo widely in their make, co-*
lour, or confthution from each other, as
reprefented by fome writers. They are
in general lllglit made, rather tall and
ftrait, and you feldom fee any among
them deformed ; their Ikin is of a reddifh
or copper colour; their eyes are large and
black, and their hair of the fame hue,
but very rarely is it curled ; they have
good teeth, and their breath is as fweet
as the air they draw in ; their cheek-
bones rather raifed, but more fo in the
women than the men ; the former are not
quite fo tall as the European women, how-
ever you frequently meet with good faces
and agreeable perfons among them, al-
though they are more inclined to be fat
than the other fex.
I fhall not enter into a particular en-
quiry whether the Indians are mdebted
to nature, art, or the temperature of the
climate for the colour of their fkin, nor
fhall I quote any of the contradi6tory ac-
counts I have read on this, fubjedl ; I fliall
only fay, that it appears to me to be
the tindlure they received originally from
the hands of their Creator ; but at what
period
L 224 ]
period the variation which is at prefeiit
vilible both in the complexion and fea-*
tures of many nations took place, at what
time the European whitenefs, the jetty
hue of the African, or the copper call: of
the American were given them ; which
was the original colour of the firft inha-
bitants of the earth, or which might be
efteemed the mofl perfedl, I will not pre*
tend to determine.
Many writers have afferted, that the
Indians, even at the maturefl: period of
their exiftence, are only furnilHed with
hair on their heads ; and that notwith-
flanding the profuiion with which that
part is covered, thofe parts which among
the inhabitants of other climates are ufu*
ally the feat of this excrefcence, remain
entirely free from it. Even Dodtor Ro-
bertfon, through their mifreprefentations,
has contributed to propagate the error ;
and fuppofing the remark juflly founded,
has drawn feveral conclulions from it re-
lative to the habit and temperature of their
'bodies, which are conlequently invalid.
But from minute enquiries, and a curious
infpedion, I am able to declare (however
reipe6labie I may hold the authority of
thefe
[ 225 ]
thefe hiftorians in other points) that their
aflertions are erroneous, and proceeding
from the want of a thorough knowledge
of the cuftoms of the Indians.
After the age of puberty, their bodies,
in their natural flate, are covered in the
fame manner as thofe of the Europeans.
The men, indeed, efteem a beard very
unbecoming, and take great pains to get
rid of it, nor is there any ever to be per-
ceived on their faces, except when they
grow old, and become inattentive to their
appearance. Every crinous effloreicence
on the other parts of the body is held un-
feemly by them, and both fexes employ
much time in their extirpation.
The Naudoweffies, and the remote na-
tions, pluck them out with bent pieces of
hard wood, formed into a kind of nip-
pers ; whilft thofe who have communica-
tion with Europeans procure from them
wire, which they twift into a fcrew or
worm ; applying this to the part, they
prefs the rings together, and with a fud-
den twitch draw out all the hairs that are
inclofed between them.
The men of every nation differ in their
drefs very little from each other, except
P thofe
[ 226 ]
thdfe who trade with the European5 ;
thefe exchange their furs for blanketSj
fhhts, and other apparel, which they wear
as much for ornament as neceffity. The
latter faften by a girdle around their
waifts about half a yard of broadcloth,
which covers the middle parts of their bo-
dies. Thofe who wear fhirts never make
them faft either at the wrift or collar ;
this would be a moft infufFerable confine-
ment to them. They throw their blanket ,
loofe upon their fhoulders, and holding
the upper lide of it by the two corners,
with a knife in one hand, and a tobacco-
pouch, pipe, &c. in the other, thus ac-*
coutred they walk about in their villages
or camps : but in their dances they fel-
dom wear this covering.
Thofe among the men who wifli to ap-
pear gayer than the reft, pluck from their
heads all the hair except from a fpot on the
top of it, about the fize of a crown-piece,
where it is permitted to grow to a confi-
derable length : on this are faftened plumes
of feathers of various colours with filver or
ivory quills. The manner of cutting and
ornamenting this part of the head diftin-
^uiflies different nations from each other.
They
C 227 ]
They paint their faces red and black,
which they efteem as greatly ornamentaL
They alio paint themfelvcs when they go
to war : but the method they make ul'e of
on this occalioii differs from that wherein
they ufe it merely as a decoration.
The 3^oung Indians, who are defirous
of excelling their companions in finery,
flit the outward rim of both their ears ; at
the fame time they take care not to fepa-
rate them entirely, but leave the flefh thus
cut ilill untouched at both extremities :
around this ipongy fubdance, from the
upper to the lower part, they twiit brafa
wire, till the weight draws the amputated
rim into a bow of five or fix inches dia-*
meter, and drags it almofl: down to the
fhoulder. This decoration is efleemed tq
be exceffively gay and becoming.
It is alfo a common cuftom among
them to bore their nofes, and wear in
them pendants of diiferent forts. I cb-
ferved that fea (hells were much worn by
thofe of the interior parts, and reckoned
very ornamental ; but how they procur-*
ed them I could not learn : probably by
their traffick with other nations nearer the
fea.
P 2 They
[ 228 ]
They go without any covering for the
thigh, except that before fpoken of, found
the middle, which readies down half
way the thighs ; but they make for their
legs a fort of flocking either of Ikins or
cloth : thefe are fewed as near to the
ihape of the leg as poffible, fo as to ad-
mit of being drawn on and off. The edges
of the fluff of wJiich they are compoled
are left annexed to the feam, and hang
loofe for about the breadth of a hand : and
this part, which is placed on the outfide of
the kg, is generally ornamented by thofe
vAio have any communication with Eu-
ropeans, if of cloth, with ribands or lace,'
It- of leather, with embroidery and porcu-
puie quills curioufly coloured. Strangers
who hunt among the Lidians in the parts
w^here there is a great deal of fnow, find
thefe flockings much more convenient than
any others.
Their fhoes are made of the ikin of the
deer, elk, or buffalo: thefe, after being
iometimes drefled according to the Eu-
ropean manner, at others with the hair
remaining on them, are cut into fhoes,
and fafnioned fo as to be eafy to the feet,
and convenient for walking. The edges
round
[ 229 ]
round the ancle are decorated with pieces
of brafs or tin fixed around leather firings,
about an inch long, which being placed
very thick make a cheerful tinkling noifc
either when they walk or dance.
The women wear a covering of fome
kind or other from the neck to the knees.
Thofe who trade with the Europeans
wear a linen garment the fame as that
nfed by the men ; the flaps of which
hang over the petticoat. Such as drefs
after their ancient manner, make a kind
of fhifc with leather, which covers the
body but not the arms. Their petticoats
are made either of leather or cloth, and
reach from the waift to the knee. On
their legs they wear ftockings and fhoes,
made and ornamented as thofe of the
men.
They differ from each other in the mode
of dreffing their heads, each following the
cuftom of the nation or band to which
they belong, and adhering to the form
made ufe of by their ancellors from time
immemorial.
I remarked that moft of the females,
who dwell on the call: lide of the Miifif-
iippi, decorate their heads by incloling their
P 3 hair
[ 2SO ]
hair either in ribands, or in plates of filver:
the latter is only made ufe of by the higher
ranks, as it is a coftly ornament. The
lilver they ufe on this occalion is formed
into thin plates of about four inches broad,
in feveral of which they confine their
hair. That plate which is neareft the
head is of a coniiderable width ; the next
jiarrower, and made fo as to pafs a little
way under the other, and in this manner
they faften into each other, and, gradually
tapering, defcend to the waift, as repre^
fented in plate N° II. The hair of the
Indian women being in general very long,
this proves an expenfive method.
But the women that live to the wefl of
the Mifliflippi, viz, the Naudoweffies, the
Affinipoils, &c. divide their hair in the
middle of the head, and form it into two
rolls, one againll each ear. Thefe rolls
are about three inches long, and as large
^s their w rifts. They hang in a perpen-
dicular attitude at the front of each ear,
and defcend as far as the lower part of it,
A more explicit idea may be formed of
this mode by referring to plate III.
The women of every nation generally
place a fpot of paint, about the fize of a
' ■ ' - crown-
[ 231 ]
crown-piece, againft each ear ; fome of
them put paint on their hair, and fome-
times a fmall fpot in the middle of the
forehead.
The Indians, in general, pay a greater
attention to their dreis and to the ornaments
with which they decorate their perfons,
than to the accommodation of their huts
or tents. They conftrucl the latter in the
following limple and expeditious manner.
Being provided with poles of a proper
length, they fallen two of them acrofs,
near their ends, with hands made of bark.
Having done this, they raife them up,
and extend the bottom of each as wide
as they purpofe to inake the area of the
tent : they then ered: others of an equal
height, and fix them fo as to fupport the
two principal ones. On the whole they
lay ikins of the elk or deer, fewed to-
gether, in quantity fufficient to cover the
poles, and by lapping over to form the
door. A great number of ikins are fome-
times required for this purpole, as fome
of their tents are very capacious.. That
of the chief warrior of the Naudoweffies
was at leaft forty feet in circumference,
and very commodious.
P 4 They
[ 232 I
They obferve no regularity in fixing
their tents when they encamp, but place
them jufh as it fuits their coiiveniency.
The huts alfo, which thole who ufe not
tents, ere6l when they travel, for very
few tribes have fixed abodes or regular
towns or villages, are equally finaple, and
almofl as foon conftru^ted.
They fix fmall pliable poles in the
ground, and bending them till they meet
at the top and form a femi-cjrcle, then lafh
them together. Thefe they cover with
mats made of rufhes platted, or with birch
bark, which they carry with them in their
canoes for this purpofe.
Thefe cabins have neither chimnies nor
windows ; there is only a fmall aperture
left in the middle of the roofs through
which the fmoke is difcharged, but as this
is obliged to be ilopped up when it rains or
fnows violently, the fmoke then proves ex-
ceedingly troublefome.
They lie on fkins, generally thofe of
the bear, which are placed in rows on the
ground ; and if the floor is not large
enough to contain beds iufficient for the
accommodation of the whole family, a
frame is erefted about four or five feet
from
[ ^33 1
from the ground, in which the younger
part of it fleep.
As the habitations of the Indians are
thus rude, their domeftic utenfils are few
in number, and plain in their formation.
The tools wherewith they fafhion them
are fo aukward and dcfedive, that it is
not only impoffible to form them with any
degree of neatnefs or elegance, but the
time required in the execution is fo con-
fiderable, as to deter them from engaging
)n the manufacture of fuch as are not ab-
folutely neceffary.
The Naudoweffies make the pots in
which they boil their vi6luals of the black
clay or ftone mentioned in my Journal ;
which relifts the effedls of the fire nearly
as well as iron. When they roaft, if it
is a large joint or a whole animal, fuch as
a beaver, they fix it as Europeans do, on
a fpit made of a hard wood, and placing
the ends on two forked props, now and
then turn it. If the piece is fmaller they
ipit it as before, and fixing the fpit in an
ere6l but flanting pofition, with the meat
inclining towards the fire, frequently
change the fides, till every part is fuffi-
ciently roafted.
They
[ 234 ]
They make their difhes in which they
ferve up their meat, and their bowls and
pans, out of the knotty excrefcencts of the
maple tree, or any other wood. They fa-
fliion their fpoons with a tolerable degree
of neatnefs (as thefe require much lefs
trouble than larger utenlils) from a wood
that is termed in America Spoon Wood,
and which greatly refembles box wood.
Every tribe are now poflefled of knives,
and fleels to ftrike fire with. Thefe be-
ing fo eflentlally needful for the common
ufes of life, thofe who have not an im-
mediate communication with the European
traders, purchafe them of fuch of their
neighbours as are litaated nearer the fettle-
ments, and generally give in exchange for
them flaves.
CHAP-
t ^35 ]
CHAPTER III.
Of their Manners, Q^ a l i f i c a-
TIONS, <^c,
WHEN the Indian women fit down,
they place themfelves in a de-
cent attitude, with their knees clofe toge-
ther ; hut from being accuflomed to this
pofture, they walk badly, and appear to be
lame.
They have no midwives amongft them,
their climate, or lome peculiar happinefs
in their conftitutions, rendering any affifl:-
ftance at that time unneceffary. On thefe
occafions they are confined but a few hours
from their ufual employments, which are
commonly very laborious, as the men,
who are remarkably indolent, leave to
them every kind of drugery ; even in their
hunting parties the former will not deign
to bring home the game, but fend their
wives for it, though it lies at a very con-
fiderable diftance.
The women place their children foon
after they are born on boards fluffed with
^ ^ foft
t 236 ]
loft mofs, fuch as is found in morafles or
meadows. The child is laid on its back
in one of thefe kind of cradles, and, being
wrapped in ikins or cloth to keep it warm,
is fecured in it by fmall bent pieces of
timber.
To thefe machines they faften ftrings,
by which they hang them to branches
of trees ; qr if they find not trees at
hand, faften them to a fluiiip or flione,
whilft they tranfadt any needful bufi-
nels. In this poiition are the children
kept for fome months. When they are
taken out, the boys are fufFered to go
naked, and the girls are covered from the
neck to the knees with a (hift and a fhort
petticoat.
The Indian women are remarkably de-
cent during their menftrual illnefs. Thoie
nations that are mofh remote from the
European fettlements, as the Naudowef-
iies, &c. are more particularly attentive
to this point ; though they all v/ithout
exception adhere in fome degree to the
fame cuilom.
In every camp or town there is an
apartment appropriated for their retire-
ment at this time, to which both fingle
and
[ '^Zl ]
and married retreat, and feclude them*
felves with the utmoft ftri^lnefs durhig
this period from all fociety. AfterWards
they purify themfelves in running ftreams,
and return to their different employ-
ments.
The men on thefe occafions mofl care-
fully avoid holding any communication
with them ; and the Naudoweffies are fo
rigid in this obfervance, that they will
not fuffer any belonging to them to fetch
fuch things as are neceliary, even fire, from
thefe female lunar retreats, though the
want of them is attended with the greatefl
inconvenience. They are alfo fo fuper-
ftitious as to think, if a pipe flem cracks,
which among them is made of wood, that
the poileflbr has either lighted it at one of
thefe polluted fires, or held fome con-
verfe with a woman during her retirement,
which is efteemed by them mofl: difgrace-
ful and wicked.
The Indians are extremely circumfpe61:
and deliberate in every word and a6lion ;
there is nothing that hurries them into
any intemperate warmth, but that inve-
teracy to their enemies which is rooted
in every Indian heart, and never can be
eradicated.
I 238 1
«*radicated. In all other inflances tliey
are cool, and remarkably cautious, tak-
ing care not to betray on any account
whatever their emotions. If an Indian
has difcovered that a friend is in danger
of being intercepted and cut off by one
to whom he has rendered himfelf ob-
noxious, he does not inform him in plain
and explicit terms of the danger he runs
by purfuing the track near which his
enemy lies in wait for him, but he firfl
coolly alks him which way he is going
that day; and having received his anfwer,
with the fame indifference tells him that
he has been informed that a dog lies near
the fpot, which might probably do him
a mifchief. This hint proves fufficient ;
and his friend avoids the danger with as
much caution as if every defign and mo-
tion of his enemy had been pointed out
to him.
This apathy often fhews itfelf on oc-»
caiions that would call forth all the fer-
vour of a liifceptible heart. If an In-
dian has been abfent from his family and
friends many months, either on a war or
hunting party, when his wife and chil-
dren meet him at fome diilance from his
habitation^
[ ^39 ]
habitation, inflead of the affe6llonate fert-
fatioiis that would naturally arife in the
breaft of more refined beings, and be pro-
ductive of mutual congratulations, he con-
tinues his courfe without paying the lead
attention to thofe who furround him, till
he arrives at his home.
He there lits down, and with the fame
unconcern as if he had not been abfent a
day, fmokes his pipe ; thofe of his ac-
quaintance who have followed him, do
the fame ; and perhaps it is feveral hours
before he relates to them the incidents
which have befallen him during his ab-
fence, though perhaps he has left a father,
brother, or fon on the field whofe lofs he
ought to have lamented, or has been un-
fuccefsful in the undertaking that called
him from his home.
Has an Indian been engaged for feveral
days in the chace, or on any other la-
borious expedition, and by accident con-
tinued thus long without food, when
he arrives at the hut or tent of a friend
where he knows his wants may be im-
mediately fupplied, he takes care not to
fhow the leaft lymptoms of impatience, or
to betray the extreme hunger by wjiich
he
[ 240 ]
he is tortured ; but on being invited in^'
fits contentedly down, and fmokes his
pipe with as much compofure as if every
appetite was allayed, and he was per-
fedliy at eafe ; he does the fame if among
Grangers. This cuftom is ftridtly ad-
hered to by every tribe, as they efteem it
a proof of fortitude, and think the reverfe
would intitle them to the appellation of.
old women.
If you tell an Indian that his children
have greatly llgnalized themfelves againft
an enemy, have taken many fcalps, and
brought home many prifoners, he does
not appear to feel any extraordinary plea-
fure on the occafion ; his anfwer gene-
rally is, " It is well," and he makes
very little further enquiry about it. Oa
tlie contrary, if you inform him that his
children are (lain or taken prifoners, he
makes no complaints, he only replies,
"• It does not fignify;" and probably, for
fome time at leall:, alks not how it hap-
pened.
This feeming indifference, however,
does not proceed from an entire fuppref-
iion of the natural affe£lions ; for not-
withflanding they are efteemed favages, 1
never
[ 241 ]
Seve fuv among any other people greater
firoofs of parental or filial tendernefs ; and
although they meet their wives after a
long abfence with the Stoical indifference
juft mentioned, they are not in general
void df conjugal aiFedlion.
Another peculiarity is obfervable in
their manner df paying their vifits. If an
Indian goes to vifit a particular perfon iii
a family, he mentions to whom his vific
is intended, and the refl of the family
immediately retiring to the other end of
th6 hut or tent are careful not to come
hear enough to interrupt them doring the
whole of the; converfation. The faitie me-
thod is purfued if a man goes to pay his
refpeils to due of the other fex ; but theii
he mull be careful not to let love be the
fubjed of his difcourfe whilfl: the daylight
femains.
The Indians difcover an amiazing fa-
gacity, and acquire with the greateft
readinefs any thing that depends upon
the attention df the mind. By experience
and an acute obfervatlon, they attain manly
perfedions to which Europeans are Gran-
gers. For inftance, they will crofs a fo-
reft or a plain which is two hundred
Q^ , lnile&
' [ 24i ]
miles ill breadth, and reach with great ex^
aclnefs the point at which they intend to
arrive, keeping during the whole of that
fpace in a dired line, without any mate-
rial deviations ; and this they will do with
the fame eafe, whether the weather be
fair or cloudy^
With equal acutenefs will they point
to that part of the heavens the fun is in^
though it be intercepted by clouds or fogs.
Befides this, they are able to purfue with
incredible facility the traces of man or
beaft, either on leaves or grafs ; and on
this account it is with great difficulty a
flying enemy efcapes difcovery.
They are indebted for thefe talents
not only to nature, but to an extraordi-
nary command of the intelle6tual facul-
ties, which can only be acquired by an
lui remitted attention, and by long expe-
rience.
They are in general very happy in a
retentive memory ; they can recapitulate
every particular that has been treated of
in council, and remember the exa6l time
when thefe were held. Their belts of wam-
pum preferve the fubftance of the treaties
they have concluded with the neighbour^
Ing
[ 243 1
Ing tribes for ages back, to which they
will appeal, and refer with as much per-
fpiculty and readintls as Europeans can to
their written records.
Every nation pays great refpe£l to old
age. The advice of a father will fel-
dom meet with any extraordinary attention
from the young Indians, probably they
receive it with only a bare aflent ; but they
will tremble before a grandfather, and fub-
mit to his injun£lions with the utmofl
alacrity. The words of the ancient part
.of their community are eifeemed by the;
young as oracles. If they take during
their hunting parties any game that is
reckoned by them uncommonly delicious,
it is immediately prefented to the oldeft of
their relations.
They never fuffer themfelves to be
overburdened with care, but Hve in a
flate of perfect tranquillity and content-
ment. Being naturally indolent, if pro-
vifion jufl fufficient for their fubfift-
ence can be procured with Httle trouble^
and near at hand, they will not go far^
or take any extraordinary pains tor it,
though by fo doing they might acquire
0^2 greater
i ^4 ]
greater plenty and of a more eflirtiable
kind.
Having much lelfure time they indulge
this indolence to which they are fo prone,
by eating, drinking, or fleeping, and ram-
bling about in their towns or camps. But
when necellity obliges them to take the
field, either to oppole an enemy, or to
procure themfelves food, they are alert and
indefatigable. Many inftances of their ac-
tivity on thefe occalions will be given
when I treiit of their wars.
The infatuating fpirit of gaming is
not confined to Europe ; the Indians alfo
feel the bewitching impulfe, and often
lofe their arms, their apparel, and every
thing they are poffefl'ed of. In this cafe,
however, they do not follow the ex-
ample of more refined gamefters, for they
neither murmur nor repine ; not a fretful
word efcapes them, biit tliey bear the
frowns of fortune with a philofophic com-
pofure.
The ffreateft blemifh in their character
is that favage difpolition which impels
them to treat their enemies with a feve-
rity every other nation Ihudders at. But
if
[ 245 ]
if" they are thus barbarous to thofe with
whom they are at war, they are friendly,
hofpitable, and humane in peace. It may
with truth be faid of them, that they are
the worft enemies, and the bed friends,
of any people in the whole world.
The Indians in general are ftrangers to
the pafiion of jealouly ; and brand a man
with folly that is diflruftful of his wife.
Among fome bands the very idea is not
known ; as the moil abandoned of their
young men very rarely attempt the virtue
of married women, nor do thefe often
put themfelves in the way of folicitation.
Yet the Indiiin women in general are of
an amorous temperature, and before they
are married are not the lefs efleemed for the
indulgence of their paiiions.
Whiifl: I was among the Naudoweffies
I obferved that they paid uncommon re^
iped to one of their women, and found
on enquiry that Ihe was intitled to it on
account of a tranfav^tion, that in Eurqpe
would have rendered her infamous.
Tliey told me that when fhe was a
young woman, for at the time I law her
{he was far advanced in life, fhe had given
what they termed a rice feaft. Accord-
0^3 ing
[ 246 3
ing to an ancient but almoil obfolete
culliom (which, as Hamlet fays, would
have been more honoured in the breach,
than the obfervance) flie invited forty of
the principal warriors to her tent, where
having feafled them with rice and veni^
fon, Ihe by turns regaled each of then;
with a private defert, behind a fcreen fixed
for this purpole in the inner part of the
tent.
She had the happinefs to obtain by this
profuiion of courtely, the favour of her
guefls, and the approbatiqn of the whole
band. So fenfible were the young In-
dians of her extraordinary merit, that they
vied with each other for her hand, and
in a very {liqrt time one of the principal
chiefs took her to wife, over whom fhe
acquired great fway, and from whom ihs
received ever after incellant tokens of re-
fpecl and love.
It is however fcarcely once in an age
that any of the females are hardy enough
to make this feaft, notwithrtanding a huf-
band of the iirft rank awaits as a fure re-
ward the fuccefsful giver of it ; and the
cuftom, I fince find, is peculiar to the
Naudowellies.
The
[ 247 ]
The Indians in their common {late are
Grangers to all diftinilion of property, ex-
cept in the articles of domeftic life, which
every one confiders as his own, and in-
creafes as circumflances admit. They are
extremely liberal to each other, and fupply
the deficiency of their friends with any fu-
perfluity of their own.
In dangers they readily give afliflance
to thofe of their band who ftand in need
of it, without any expectation of return,
except of thofe jufh rewards that are al-
ways conferred by the Indians on merit,
Governed by the plain and equitable laws
of nature, every one is rewarded folely
according to his deferts ; and their equa-
lity of condition, manners, and privileges,
with that conflant and fociable familiarity
which prevails throughout every Indian na-
tion, animates them with a pure and truly
patriotic fpirit, that tends to the general
good of the fociety to which they belong.
If any of their neighbours are bereaved
by death or by an enemy of their chil-
dren, thofe who are poflefled of the greatef|
number of {laves, fupply the deficiency ;
and thefe are adopted by them and treated
in every refped as if they really were the
(3 4 children
[ i48 ]
Iren of the perfon to whom they ate
prefented.
The Indians, except thofe who live
adjoining to the European colonies, can
form to themfelves no idea of the value
of ilioney ; they confider it, wlien they
«ve made acc^uainted with the ufes to
which it is applied by other nations,
as the fource of innumerable evils. To
it they attribute ail the rnifchiefs that
lire prevalent among Europeans, fuch as
treachery, plundering, devaftatious, and
murder;
They eneem it Irrational that one man
fhould be poflcfled of a greater quantity
than another, and are amazed that any
honour iliould be annexed to the poflief-
liou of it. But that tlie want of this
uielefs metal fhould be the caufe of de-
priving perfons of tlieir liberty, and that
on account of this partial dillribution of it,
great numbers fhould be immured with-
in the dreary vValls of a prifon, cut off
from that loci^ty of which they conftl-
tute a part, exceeds their belief. Nor do
they fail, on hearing this part of the Eu-
ropean fyfcem of government related, to
i:harge the inftltutors of it with a total
want;
[ ^49 J
^ant of humanity, mv\ to biand them with
the names of favages and brutes.
They fhew almoft an equal degree of
indifference for the produ6tions of art.
When any of thefe are fhewn them, they
fay, " It is pretty, I hke to look at it,'*
but are not inquifitive about the conftruc-
tion of it, neither can they form proper
conceptions of its ufe. But if you telj
them of a perfon who is able to run with
great agility, that is well Ikilled in hunt-
ing, can direiEl with unerring aim a gun,
or bend with eafe a bow, that can dexte-
rouily work a canoe, underflands the art
of war, is acquainted with the lituation of
a country, and can make his way with*
put a guide, through an immenfe foreft,
fubfifting during this on a fmall quantity
of proviiions, they are in raptures; they
liften with great attention to the pleafing
tale, and beftow the higheft commenda-
tions oa thgi hero of it.
CHAP-
I ^5^ 3
CHAPTER IV,
^/jeir Method of reckoning Tim e, ^c^
CONSIDERING their ignorance of
aftronomy, time is very rationally
divided by the Indians. Thole in the in-
terior parts (and of thofe I would generally
be underflood to fpeak) count their years
by winters ; or, as they exprefs themfelves,
by fnows.
Some nations among them reckon their
years by moons, and make them confifl
of twelve fynodical or lunar months, ob-
ferving, when thirty moons have waned,
to add a fupernumerary one, which they
term the loft moon ; and then begin to
count as before. They pay a great regard
to the firft appearance of every moon, and
on the occafion always repeat fome joyful
founds, ftretching at the fame time their
hands towards it.
Every month has with them a name
exprellive of its feafon ; for inflance, they
call
[ 251 ]
call the month of March (in which their
year generally begins at the firfl New
Moon after the vernal Equinox) the
Worm Month or Moon ; becaufe at this
time the worms quit their retreats iu
the bark of the trees, wood, &c. where
they have fheltered themfelves during thp
winter.
The month of April is termed by
them the month of Plants. May, the
Month of Flowers. June, the Hot
Moon. July, the Buck Moon, Their
reafon for thus denominating thefe is ob*
yious.
Augufl:, the Sturgeon Moon ; becaule
in this month they catch great numbers of
that fifh.
September, the Corn Moon ; becaufe
in that month they gather in their Indiai).
corn.
Odlober, the Travelling Moon ; as they
leave at this time their villages, and travel
towards the places where they intend to
hunt during the winter.
November, the Beaver Moon ; for in
this month the beavers begin to take
llielter ii; their houfes, havhig laid up a
fufficient
[ 252 3
fufficient ftore of provifions for the winter
feafon.
December, the Hunting Moon, bscaufe
they employ this month in purfuit of
their game.
January, the Cold Moon, as it ge-
nerally fi-eezes harder, and the cold is
more intenfe ia this than in any other
month.
February they call the Snow Moon,
becaule more {'now commonly falls dur-
ing this month, than any other in the
ivinter.
When the moon does not fhine they
fay the moon is dead ; and fome call the
three laft days of it the naked days. The
moon's firft appearance they term its com-
ing to life again.
They make no divifion of weeks ; but
days they count by fleeps ; half days by
pointing to the fun at noon ; and quar-
ters by the rifing and the fettlng of the
lun : to exprefs which in their traditions
they make ufe of very fignificant hiero-
glyphicks.
The Indians are totally unskilled in
geography as well as all the other fciencea,
and
[ Zi3 1
and yet, as I have, before hinted, they
draw on then* birch bark very exa6l charts
or maps of the countries with which they
are acquainted. The latitude and longi-
tude is only wanting to make them toler-
ably complete.
Their fole knowledge in aflronomy con-
fifts in being able to point out the pole-
ftar ; by which they regulate fheir courfe
when they travel in the night.
They reckon the diftance of places, not
by miles or leagues, but by a day's jour-
ney, which, according to the beft calcu-
lations I could make, appears to be abouC
twenty Englifh miles. Thefe they alfo
divide into halves and quarters, and will
demonftrate them in their maps with great
exadlnefs, by the hieroglyphicks juft men-
tioned, when they regulate in council
their war parties, or their moft diftanC '
hunting excurfions.
They have no idea of arithmetic ; and
though they are able to count to any
number, figures as well as letters appear
myfterioLis to them, and above their com-
preheniion.
During my abode with the Naudowei^
lies, fome of the chiefs obferving one day
a draft
C 254 1
a draft of an eclipfe of the moon, hi i .
book of aflironomy which I held m my
hand, they delired I would permit them
to look at it. Happening to give them
the book (hut, they began to count the
leaves till they came to the place in which
the plate was. After they had viewed
it, and alked many queilions relative to
it, I told them they needed not to have
taken fo much pains to find the leaf on
which it was drawn, for I could not only
tell in an inftant the place, without count-
ing the leaves, but alfo how many pre-
ceded it.
They fecmed greatly amazed at my af-^
fertion, and begged that I would de-
monflrate to them the poffibility of doing
it. To this purpofe I defired the chief
that held the book, to open it at any par-
ticular place, and juft Ihewiiig me the ,
page carefully to conceal the edges of the .
leaves, fo that I might not be able to
count them.
This he did with the greatest caution ;
notwithftanding which,, by looking at the
folio, I told him, to his great furprize,
the number of leaves. He counted them
regularly over, and difcovered that I was
exaiSl,
I ^55 1
ekail. And when, after repeated trials,
the Indians found I could do it with
great readinefs, and witliout ever erring
in my calculation, they all feemed as
much aftonifhed as if I had raifed the
dead. The only way they could ac-
count for my knowledge, was hy conclud-
ing that the book was a fpirit, and whif-
pered me anfwers to whatever I demanded
of it.
This circumftance, trifling as It might
appear to thofe who are lefs illiterate, con-
tributed to increafe my confequence, and
to augment the favourable opinion they
already entertained of me.
CHAPTER V.
Of their Government, ^c*
EVERY feparate body of Indians is di«
vided into bands or tribes ; which
band or tribe forms a little community
with the nation to which it belongs. As
the nation has fome particular fymbol by
which it is diftinguilhed from others, io
each
[ 256 ]
eacli tribe has a badge from which it is
denominated : as that of the Eagle, the
Panther, the Tiger, the Buffalo, &c. &c.
One band of the Naudoweffie is reprefented
by a Snake, another a Tortoife, a third a
Squirrel, a fourth a Wolf, and a fifth a'
Buffalo. Throughout every nation they
particularize thcmfclves in the fame man-
ner, and the meanefl perfon among them
will remember his lineal defcent, and dif-
tinguifli himfelf by his refpeftive family.
Did not many circumftances tend to
confute the fuppofition, I fliould be almoft
induced to conclude from this diftin^lion
of tribes, and the particular attachment
of the Indians to them, that they derive
their origin, as fome have allerted, from
the Ifraelites.
Belides this, every nation difiinguifh'
thc*mfelves by the manner of confl:ru6t-
ing their tents or huts. And fo well
verfed are all the Indians in this diftinc-
tion, that though there appears to be
no difference on the niceft obfervation
made by an European, yet they will im-
mediately difcover, from the pofition ot a
pole left in the ground, what nation has
encamped
[ ^57 ]
<ipncamped on the fpot many months be-
fore.
Every band has a chief who is termed
the Great Chief or the chief Warrior ; and
who is chofen in confideration of his expe-
rience in war, and of his approved valour,
to direct their mihtary operations, and to
regulate all concerns belonging to that de-
partment. But this chief is not confider-
ed as the head of the ftate ; befides the
great warrior v/ho is ele6ted for his war-
like qualifications, there Is another who
enjoys a pre-eminence as his hereditary
right, and has the more immediate ma-
nagement of their civil affairs. This
chief might with greater propriety be de-
nominated the Sachem ; whofe aflent is
neceflkry in all conveyances and treaties,
to which he affixes the mark of the tribe
or nation.
Though thefe two are confidered as
the heads of the band, and the latter
is ufually denominated their king, yet
the Indians are fenfible of neither civil
or military fubordination. As every one
of them entertains a high opinion of his
confequence, and is extremely tenacious
of his liberty, all injuniSlions that carry
R with
[ ^58 ]
with them the appearance of a pofitive.
command, are inftantly rejected with fcorn.
On this account, it is feldom that their
leaders are fo indifcreet as to give out any
of their orders in a peremptory ftile ; a
bare hint from a chief that he thinks
fuch a tiling neceffary to be done, inftant-
\y aroufes an emulation among the in-
ferior ranks, and it is immediately exe-
cuted with great alacrity. By this me-
thod the difguftful part of the command
13 evaded, and an authority that falls
little iliort of abfolute fvvay inftituted in
its room.
Amons the Indians no vifible form of
government is eflabliflied ; they allow of
310 fuch difiiin^lion as magiftrate and fub-
]QCk, every one appearing to enjoy an in-
dependence that cannot be controlled.
The objeiSi: of government among them is
rather foreign than domeftic, for their at-
tention feems more to be employed in pre-
ferving fuch an union among the mem-
bers of their tribe as will enable them,
to watch the motions of their enemies,
and to act againft them with concert and
vigour, than to maintain interior order by
any public regulations. If a fcheme that
appears
[ 259 ]
appears to be of fervice to the community
is propofed by the chief, every one is at
liberty to chufe whether he will affift in
carrying it on ; for they have no compul-
fory laws that lay them under any rcftric-
tions. If violence is committed, or blood
is fhed, the right of revenging the/e
mifdemeanours are left to the family of
the injured ; the chiefs alTume neither the
power of infliding or moderating the pu-^
iiifhment.
Some nations, where the dignity is he-
reditary, limit the fucceffion to the fe-
male line. On the death of a chief, his
fifter's {on fometimes fucceeds him in pre-
ference to his own fon ; and if he hap-
pens to have no fifter, the nearefl: female
relation affumes the dignity. This ac-
counts for a woman being at the head of
the Winnebagoe nation, which, before I
was acquainted with their laws, appeared
ft range to me.
Each family has a right to appoint one
of its chiefs to be an aiiiilant to the princi-
pal chief, who watches over the intereil of
his family, and without whofe conient
nothing of a public nature can be carried
into execution. Thefe are generally chofen
R 2 for
[ 26o ]
tor their ability in fpeaklrig ; and fucll
only are permitted to make orations in
their Gouncils and general aflemblies.
In this body, with the hereditary chief
at its head, the fupreme authority appears
to be lodged ; as by its determination every
tranfa6tion relative to their hunting, to
their making war or peace, and to all their
public concerns are regulated. Next to
thefe, the body of warriors, which com-
prehends all that are able to bear arms,
hold their rank. This divilion has fome-
times at its head the chief of the nation,
if he has fignalized himfelf by any re-
nowned a6lion, if not, fome chief that has
rendered himfelf famous^
In their councils which are held by the
foregoing members, every affair of confe-
quence is debated ; and no enterprize of
the lead moment undertaken, unlefs it
there meets with the general approbation
of the chiefs. They commonly aflemble
in a hut or tent appropriated to this pur-
pofe, and being feated in a circle on the
ground, the eldeft chief rifes and makes a
Ipeech ; when he has concluded, another
gets up ; and thus they all fpeak, if ne-
cefiary, by turns.
On
[ 26l ]
On this occafion their language is ner-
vous, and their manner of expreffion, em-
phatical. Their ftyle is adorned lyith ima-
ges, comparifons, and ftrong metaphors,
and is equal in allegories to that of any of
the eaftern nations. In all their fetfpeeches
they exprefs thernlelves with niuch vche^
mence, but in common difcourle according
po our ufual method of Ipeech.
The young men are fufFered to be pre-
fent at the councils, though they are not
allowed to make a fpeech till they are re-
gularly admitted : they however liften with
great attention-, and to Hiew that they
both underftand, and approve of the re-
folutions taken by the aflembled chiefs,
they frequently exclaim, " That is right.'*
" That is good."
The cuftomary mode among all the
ranks of expreffing their affent, and which
they repeat at the end of almofl every
period, is by uttering a kind of forcible
aipiration, which founds like an union of
|:he letters OAH.
R 2 CHAP-
[ 262 ]
CHAPTER VL
Of their Feasts.
ANY of the Indian nations neither
make ufe of bread, fait, or fpices;
and fome of them have never feen or
tafted of either. The Naudovveffies in par-
ticular have no bread, nor any fubilitute
for it. They eat the wild rice which grows
in great quantities in different parts of
their territories ; but they boil it and eat
it alone. They alfo eat the flefh of the
beafts they kill, without having recourfe
to any farinaceous fubftance to abforb the
groffer particles of it. And even when
they confume the fugar which they have
extracted from the maple tree, they ufe it
not to render fome other food palatable,
but generally eat it by itfelf.
Neither have they any idea of the ufe
of milk, although they might colle6l great
quantities from the buffalo or the elk ;
they only conlider it as proper for the nu-
triment of the young of thefe beafts dur-
ing their tender flate, 1 could not per-
ceive
[ "-^D ]
ceive that any iiiconvTcicncy attended the
total dillife of articles cfleemed fb necef-
fary and nutritious by other nations, on
the contrary, they are in general healthy
and vigorous.
One difli however, which anfwers near-
ly the fame purpofe as bread, is in ule
among the Ottagaumies, the Saukies, and
the more eaftern nations, where Indian
corn grows, which is not only much efteem-
cd by them, but it is reckoned extremely
palatable by all the Europeans who enter
their dominions. This is compofed of
their unripe corn as before defcribed, and
beans in the fame ftate, boiled together
with bears flelh, the fat of which moiftens
the pulfe, and renders it beyond com-
parifon delicious. They call this food
Succatofli.
The Indians are far from being cani-
bals, as they are faid to be. All their
vi6luals are either roafted or boiled ; and
this in the extrenie. Their drink is ge-
nerally the broth in which it has been
boiled.
Their food conlifts of the flefli of the
bear, the buffalo, the elk, the deer, the
R 4 beaver,
[ 264 ]
beaver, and the racoon ; which they pre-
pare in the manner jufl: mentioned. They
ufually eat the flefh of the deer which is
naturally dry, with that of the bear which
is fat and juicy ; and though the latter
is extremely rich and lufcious, it is never
known to clov.
In the fpring of the year the Nau-
dowefiies eat the infide bark of a fhrub,
that they gather in fome part of their
country ; but I could neither learn the
name of it, or difcover from whence they
got it. It was of a brittle nature and ea-
fily mafticated. The tafte of it was very
agreeable, and they laid it was extremely
nourifhincr. In flavour it was not unlike
o
the turnip, and when received into the
mouth refembled that root both in its pul-
pous and frangible nature.
The lower ranks of the Indians are
exceedingly nafty in drelling their vic-
tuals, but fome of the chiefs are very neat
and cleanly in their apparel, tents, and
food.
They commonly eat in large parties, fo
that their meals may properly be termed
feafts ; and this they do without being re-
/h-iaed
[ 26s ]
ilrlded to any fixed or regular hours, but
juft as their appetites require, and conve-
nience fuits.
They ufually dance either before or after
every meal ; and by this cheerfulnefs pro-
bably render the Great Spirit, to whom
they confider themfelves as indebted for
every good, a more acceptable facrifice
than a formal and unanimated thankfr
giving. The mert and women feaft apart :
and each fex invite by turns their conlr
panions to partake with them of the food
they happen to have ; but in their do-
meftic way of living the men and women
,eat together.
No people are more hofpitable, kind,
and free than the Indians, They will
readily (liare with any of their own tribe
the laft part of their provifions, and even
with thofe of a different nation, if they
chance to come in when they are eating.
Though they do not keep one common
flock, yet that community of goods which
is fo prevalent among them, and their ge-
nerous difpofition, render it nearly of the
fame effect.
When the chiefs are convened on any
public
[ 266 ]
public bafinefs, they always conclude with
a feaft, at which their feftivity and cheer^
fuinefs knows no limits.
CHAPTER VII.
Of their Dances.
AN C I N G is a favourite ex-ercife
among the Indians; they never meet
on any public occalion, but this makes
a part of the entertainment. And when
they are not engaged in war or hunting,
the youth of both fexes amufe themfelves
in this manner every evening.
They always dance, as I have juil oh-
ferved, at their feaft. In thefe as well
as all their other dances, every man rifes
in his turn, and moves about with great
freedom and boldnefs ; finging as he does
fo, the exploits of his ancellors. During
this the company, who are feated on the
ground in a circle, around the dancer,
join with him in marking the cadence,
by an odd tone, which they utter all to-
gether, and which founds, *' Heh, heh,
" heh,"
[ 2^7 ]
** heh." Thefe notes, if they might l>c
fo termed, are articulated with a harlh ac-
cent, and {trained out with the utmoH:
force of their lungs ; fo that one would
imagine their ftrength mufl he foon ex-
baufted by it ; inftead of which, they re-
peat it with the fame violence during the
whole of their entertainment.
The women, particularly thofe of the
weflern nations, dance very gracefully.
They carry themfelves ere<fl, and with
their arms hanging down clofe to their
fides, move firft a few yards to the right,
and then back aq-ain to the k£t. This
o
movement they perform without taking
any fteps as an European would do, but
with their feet conjoined, moving by turns
their toes and heels. In this manner
they glide with great agility to a certain
diflance, and then return ; and let thofe
who join in the dance be ever fo nume-
rous, they keep time fo exactly with each
other that no interruption enfues. Dur-
ing this, at ftated periods they mingle
their fhrill voices witli the hoarfer one^
of the men who (it around (for it is to be
obferved that the fexes never intermix in
the fame dance) which, with the mufic
of
[ 268 ]
of the drums and Ghichlcoues, make an
agreeable harmony.
The Indians have feveral khids of
dances which they ufe on different oc-
cafions, as the Pipe or Calumate Dance,
the War Dance, the Marriage Dance, and
the Dance of the Sacrifice. The move-
ments in every one of thefe are diffimi-
lar; but it is almoll: impoffible to convey
any idea of the points in which they are
unlike.
Different nations likewife vary in their
manner of dancing. The Chipeways
throw themfelves into a greater variety
of attitudes than any other people ; fome-
times they hold their heads ere<£t, at
others they bend them almofl to the
ground ; then recline on one fide, and
immediately after on the other. The
Naudo wellies carry themfelves more up-
right, ilep firmer, J^nd move more grace-
fully. But they all accompany their
dances with the difagreeable noife juft
mentioned.
The Pipe Dance is the principal, and
the mofl pleafing to a fpe6tator of any
of them, being the leaf! frantic, and the
movement of it the mofl graceful. Jt
is
t 269 ]
is but on particular occafioris ^that It is
ufed ; as when ambafladors from an ene-
my arrive to treat of peace, or when
ftrangers of eminence pafs through their
territories.
The War Dance, which they ufe both
before they fet out on their war parties,
and on their return from them, flrikes
terror into ilrangers. It is performed, as
the others, amidft a circle of the war-
riors ; a chief generally begins it, who
moves from the right to the left, linging
at the fame time both his own exploits,
and thofe of his anceftors. When he has
concluded his account of any memorable
adlion, he gives a violent blow with his
war-club againfl a poft that is fixed in
the ground, near the center of the aflem-
bly, for this purpofe.
Every one dances in his turn, and re-
capitulates the wondrous deeds of his fami-
ly, till they all at laft join in the dance.
Then it becomes truly alarming to any
ftranger that happens to be among them,
as they throw themfelves into every hor-
rible and terrifying poflure that can be
imagined, rehearfing at the iiime time the
parts they expe6l to a£t againft their ene-
mies
[ 27a ]
tnies in the field. During this they hold
their fliarp knives in their hands, with
which, as they whirl about, they are
every moment in danger of cutting each
others throats ; and did they not ihun
the threatened mifchief with inconceivable
dextcritj^ it could not be avoided. By
thefe motions they intend to reprefent the
manner in which they kill, Icalp, and
take .their prifoners. To heighten the
fcene, they let up the fame hideous yells,
cries, and war-hoops they ufe in time
of adlon : fo that It is impoffible to con-
iider them in any other light than as an
aiiembly of dcm^ons.
I have frequently joined in this dance
with them, but it foon ceafed to be an
amufement to me, as I could not lay
atide my apprehenfions of receiving fome
dreadful wound, that from the violence
of their geftures muft have proved mor-
tal.
I found that the nations to the weft-
ward of the Miffiffippi, and on the bor-
ders of Lake Superior, ftill continue to
make ufe of the Pawwaw or Black Dance.
The people of the colonies tell a thou*
fand ridiculous ftories of the devil being
raifed
[ 27. ] .
ralfed in this dance b^ the Indians. But
they allow that this was in former times,
and is now nearly extindl among thole
who live adjacent to the European fettle-
ments. However I dilbovered that it
Was flill ufed in the interior parts ; and
though I did not a6lualiy fee the devil
raifed by it, I was witnefs to fome fcenes
that could only be performed by fuch as
dealt with him, or were very expert and
dextrous jugglers.
Whilft I was among the Naudoweffies,
a dance, which they thus termed, was
performed. Before the dance began, one
of the Indians was admitted into a foci-
ety which they denominated Wakon-Kit-
chewah, that is, the Friendly Society of
the Spirit. This fociety is compofed of
perfons of both fexes, but fuch only can
be admitted into it as are of unexception-
able character, and who receive the appro-
bation of the whole body. To this ad-
miiiion fucceeded the Pawwaw Dance (in.
which 1 faw nothing that could give rife
to the reports I had heard) and the whole,
according to their ufual cuflom, concluded
with a grand feaft. •
The
t 272 ]
The initiation being attended with fome
very lingular circumflances, which, as I
have before obferved, muft be either the
effect of magic, or of amazing dexterity,
I fhall give a particular account of the
whole procedure. It was performed at the
time of the new moon, in a place appro-
priated to the purpofe near the centre of
their camp, that would contain about two
hundred people. Being a ftranger, and
on all occafions treated by them with
great civility, I was invited to fee the ce-
remony, and placed clofe to the rails of
the inclofure.
About twelve o'clock they began to
aflemble ; when the fun (hone bright,
which they confidered as a good omen,
for they never by choice hold any of
their public meetings unlefs the iky be
clear and unclouded. A great number of
chiefs firft appeared, who were drefled in
their beft apparel ; and after them came
the head-warrior, clad in a long robe of
rich furs that trailed on the ground, at-
tended by a retinue of fifteen or twenty
perfons, painted and drelTed in the gay eft
manner. Next followed the wives of
fuch as had been already admitted into
the
[ 273 J
he foclety ; and in the rear a confufed
heap of the lower ranks, all contiibutiiig
as much as lay in their power to make
the appearance grand and fhowy.
When the allembly was feated, and
filence proclaimed, one of the principal
chiefs arofe, and in a fhprt but mafterly
fpeech informed his audience of the occa-
fion of their meeting. He acquainted them
that one of their young men wifhed to
be admitted into their fociety ; and taking
him by the hand prefented him to their
view, afking them, at the fame time,
whether they had any objediion to his be-
coming one of their community.
No objeflion being made, the young
candidate was placed in the centre, and
four of the chiefs took their ftations clofe
to him; after exhorting him, by turns,
not to faint under the operation he was
about to go through, but to behave like
an Indian and a man, two of them took
hold of his arms, and caufed him to
kneel; another placed himfelf behind him
fo as to receive him when he fell, and
the lafl: of the four retired to the diftance
of about twelve feet from him exadly in
front.
S This
t 274 ]
This dirpofitlon being completed, the
chief that flood before the kneeling can-
didate, began to fpeak to him with an
audible voice. He told him that he him-
ielf was now agitated by the fame fpirit
which he fhould in a few moments com-
municate to him ; that it would ftrike
him dead, but that he would inftantly be
reftored again to life ; to this he added,
that the communication, however terri-
fying, was a neceilary introduction to the
advantages enjoyed by the community
into which he was on the point of being
admitted.
As he fpoke this, he appeared to be
greatly agitated ; till at laft his emotions
became fo violent, that his countenance
was diftorted, and his whole frame con-
vulfed. At this juncture he threw fome-
thing that appeared both in ihape and co-
lour like a fmall bean, at the young man,
which feemed to enter his mouth, and
he inflantly fell as motionlefs as if he
had been fhot. The chief that was placed
behind him received him in his arms,
and, by the afiiftance of the other two,
laid him on the ground to all appearance
bereft of life.
Having
[ 275 ]
Having done this, they immediately
began to rub his limbs, and to ftrike him
on the back, giving him fuch blows, as
feemed more calculated to ftill the quick,
than to raife the dead. During thefe ex-
traordinary applications, the fpeaker con-
tinued his harangue, defiring the {pe6ta-
tors not to be furprized, or to defpair of
the young man's recovery, as his prefent
inanimate fituation proceeded only from
the forcible operation of the ipirit, on
faculties that had hitherto been unufed to
infpirations of this kind.
The candidate lay feveral minutes with-
out fenfe or motion ; but at length, af-
ter receiving many violent blows, he be-
gan to difcover fome iymptoms of re-
turning life. Thefe, however, were at-
tended with ftrong convullions, and an
apparent obftruilion in his throat. But
they were foon at an end; for having dis-
charged from his mouth the bean, or
whatever it was that the chief had thrown
at him, but which on the clofefl: infpec-
tion I had not perceived to enter it, he
foon after appeared to be tolerably reco-
vered.
S 2 Thi«
[ ^/S I
This part of the ceremony being hap-
pily efFeȣled, the officiating chiefs difrobed
him of the cloaths he had ufually worn,
and put on him a fet of apparel entirely
new. When he was dreffed, the fpeaker
once more took him by tlie hand, and
prefented him to the fociety as a regular
and thoroughly initiated member, exhort-
ing them, at the fame time, to give him
fuch neceflary afliftance, as being a young
member, he might ftand in need of. He
then alfo charged the newly ele\5led bro-
ther to receive with humility, and to fol-
low with punduality the advice of his
elder brethren.
All thole who had been admitted with-
in the rails, now formed a circle around
their new brother, and the muiic ftriking
up, the great chief fung a fong, celebrat-
lup- as ulual their martial exploits.
The onlv muiic thev make ufe of is a
drum, which is compofed of a piece of
a hollow tree curiouily wrought, and
over one end of which is ftrained a fkin,
this they beat with a fingle Hick, and it
gives a found that is far from harmoni-
ous, but it jufl fcrves to beat time with.
To this they fometimes add the chichlcoe,
z and
[ 277 ]
'and in their war dances they likewife life
a kind of fife, formed of a reed, which
makes a fhrill harfh noife.
The whole aflembly were by this time
•united, and tlie dance began ; feveral fing-
ers affifted the mufic with their voices,
and the women joining in the chorus at
certain Intervals, they produced together
a not unpleafing but favage harmony.
This was one of the moft agreeable en-
tertainments I law whilft 1 was among
them.
I could not help laughing at a fingular
childifh cuftom I obferved they intro-
duced into this dance, and which was the
only one that had the leafl: appearance of
conjuration. Moft of tlie members car-
ried in their hands an otter or martin's
ikin, which being taken whole from the
body, and filled with wind, on being com-
prefled made a fqueaking noife through
a fmall piece of wood organically formed
and fixed in its mouth. When this in-
flrument w^as prefented to the tace of any
of the company, and the found emitted,
the perfon receiving it inftantly fell down
to appearance dead. Sometimes two or
three, both men and women, were on
S 3 the
[ 278 ]
the ground together ; but immediately re-
covering, they rofe up and joined again
in the dance. This feemed to afford,
even the chiefs themfelves, infinite diver-
fion. I afterwards learned that thefe were
their Dii Penates or Houfhold Gods.
After fome hours fpent in this manner
the feafl: began ; the difhes being brought
near me, I perceived that they confifted
of dog's flefh ; and I was informed that
at all their public grand feafls they never
made ufe of any other kind of food.
For this purpofe, at the feafl: I am now
fpeaking of, the new candidate provides
fat dogs, if they can be procured at any
price.
In this cuflom of eating dog's flefh on
particular occalions, they refemble the in-
habitants of fome of the countries that lie
on the north-eaft borders of Afia, The
author of the account of Kamfchatka,
publifhed by order of the Emprefs of Ruf-
fia (before referred to) informs us, that
the people inhabiting Koreka, a country
north of Kamfchatka, who wander about
in hords like the Arabs, when they pay
their worfhip to the evil beings, kill a
j-ein-deer or a dog, the fiefh of which
they
[ '^-19 ]
they eat, and leave the head and tongue
flicking on a pole with the front towards
the eafl. Alio that when they are afraid
of any infections diftemper, they kill a
dog, and winding the guts about two
poles, pafs between them. Thefe cuf-
toms, in which they are nearly imitated
by the Indians, feem to add ftrength to
my fuppofition, that America was firft
peopled from this quarter.
I know not under what clafs of dances
to rank that performed by the Indians
who came to my tent when I landed near
Lake Pepin, on the banks of the Miflif-
fippi, as related in my Journals. When
I looked out, as I there mentioned, I faw
about twenty naked young Indians, the
mofl perfect in their Ihape, and by far
the handfbmeil of any I had ever feen,
coming towards me, and dancing as they
approached, to the mufic of their drums.
At every ten or twelve yards they halted,
and fet up their yells and cries.
When they reached my tent, I aiked
them to come in ; which, without deign-
ing to make me any anfwer, they did. As
I obferved that they were painted red and
and black, as they ulually are w4:ien they
S 4 : go
t ^80 ]
go againft an enemy, and perceived that
Ibme parts of the war-dance were inter-
mixed with, their other movements, I
doubted not but they were let on by the
inimical chief who had refufed my falu-
tation : I therefore determined to fell my
life as dear as poffible. To this purpofe,
I received them fitting on my cheft,
with my gun and pifiols belide me, and
ordered my men to keep a watchful eye
on them, and to be alfo upon their
guard.
The Indians being entered, they con-
tinued their dance alternately, fmging at
the fame time of their heroic exploits,
and the fuperiority of their race over
every other people. To enforce their
language, though it was uncommonly
nervous and expreffive, and fuch as would
of itfelf have carried terror to the firmefh
heart, at the end of every period they
flruck their war-clubs againft the poles of
my tent, with fuch violence, that I ex-
pefted every moment it would have tum-
bled upon us. As each of them, in
dancing round, paffed by me, they placed
their right hands over their eyes, and
coming ciole to me, looked me fleadily
ill
[ aSi ]
in the face, which I could not conflri^c
into a token of friendfliip. My men
gave themfelves up for loft, and I ac-
knowledge, for my own part, that I never
found my apprehenfions more tumultuous
on any occafion.
When they had nearly ended their
dance, I prefented to them the pipe of
peace, but they would not receive it. I
then, as my laft refource, thought I
would try w^hat prefents would do; ac-
cordingly I took from my cheft fome
ribands and trinkets, which I laid before
them. Thefe ieemed to ftagger their re-
folutions, and to avert in fome degree
their anger ; for after holding a coniulta-
tion together, they fat down on the
ground, which I confidered as a favour-
able omen.
Thus it proved, as in a fhort time
they received the pipe of peace, and light-
ing it, firft prefented it to me, and then
fmoaked with it themfelves. Soon after
they took up the prefents, which had hi-
therto lain neglc6led, and appearing to be
greatly pleafed with them, departed in a
friendly manner. And never did I receive
greittij:
[ ^S2 ]
greater pleafure than at getting rid of fuch
formidable guefts.
It was not ever in my power to gain 3
tliorongh knowledge of the deiigns of my
vifiters. I had fufficient reafon to con-
clude that they were hofiile, and that
their villt, at (o late an hour, was made
through the infligation of the Grand
Sautor ; but I was r;fterwards informed,
that it might be intended as a compliment
which they ulually pay to the chiefs of
every other nation who happen to fall in
■vvith them, and that the circiimftances in
their conduct, which had appeared fo fuf-
picious to me, were merely the efFecSls of
their vanity, and defigncd to imprefs on
the minds of thofe whom they thus vifited
an elevated opinion of their valour and
prowefs. In the morning before I con-
tinued my route, feveral of their wives
brought me a prefent of fome fugar, for
wliom I found a few more ribands.
The Dance of the facrifice is not fo
denominated from their offering up at the
fame time a lacrifice to any good or evil
fpirit, but is a dance to which the Nau-
doweilies give that title from being ufed
when any public fortunate circumftance
befalls
f 283 -J
befalls them. Whilft I refided among,
them, a fine large deer accidentally ft rayed
into the middle of their encampment,
which they foon deftroyed. As this hap-
pened juft at the new moon, they ef-
teemed it a lucky omen; and having
roafted it whole, every one in the camp
partook of it. After their feaft, they all.
joined in a dance, which they termed,
from its being fomewhat of a religious
nature, a Dance of the facrifice.
CHAPTER VIII.
Of their Hunting.
HUNTING is the principal occu-
pation of the Indians ; they are
trained to it from their earlieft youth, and
it is an exercife which is efteemed no lefs
honourable than neceffary towards their
fubfiftence. A dextrous and refolute hun-
ter is held nearly in as great eftimation
by them as a diftinguiflied warrioro
Scarcely any device which the ingenuity
of man has difcovered for enfnarlng or de^
ftroying thofe animals that fupply them
with
[ 284 ]
with food, or whofe Iklns are valuable to
Europeans, is unknown to them.
Whilfl they are engaged in this exer-
cife, they fhake off the indolence peculiar
to their nature, and become aftive, per-
fevering, and indefatigable. They are
equally figacious in finding their prey,
and in the means they ufe to deftroy it.
They difcern the footfteps of the beafts
they are in purfuit of, although they are
imperceptible to every other eye, and can
follow them with certainty through the
pathlefs foreft.
The beafts that the Indians hunt, both
for their flefh on which they fubiifl, and
for their fkins, of which they either make
their apparel, or barter with the Euro-
peans for neceflaries, are the buffalo, the
elk, the deer, the moofe, the carribboo,
the bear, the beaver, the otter, the martin,
&c. I defer giving a defcription of thefe
creatures here, and fliall only at prefent
treat of their manner of hunting them.
The route they fliall take for this pur-
pofe, and the parties that fhall go on the
different expeditions are fixed in their ge-
neral councils which are held fome time
in the fummer, when all the operations
for
[ a85 ]
for the enfuing winter are concluded on.
The chief-warrior, whofe province it is
to regulate their proceedings on this oc-
cafion, with great folemnity ifl'ues out an
invitation to thofe who choofe to attend
him ; for the Indians, as before obferved,
acknowledge no fuperiority, nor have they
any idea of compulfion ; and every one
that accepts it prepares himfelf by fading
during feveral days.
The Indians do not fafl as fome other
nations do, on the richefl: and moil lux-
urious food, but they totally abfrain from
every kind either of victuals or drink ; and
fuch is their patience and refolution, that
the moil: extreme thirft could not oblige
them to tafte a drop of water ; yet amidffc
this fevere abftinence they appear cheerful
and happy.
The rcafons they give for thus fafting,
are, that it enables them freely to dream,
in which dreams they are informed where
they fhall find the greateft plenty of game ;
and alfo that it averts the difpleafure of
the evil Ipirits, and induces them to be
propitious. They alfo on thefe occaiions
blacken thofe parts of their bodies that are
uncovered.
The
[ 286 ]
The fafl: being ended, and the place of
hunting made known, the chief who is
to condu6l them, gives a grand feaft to
thofe who are to form the different par-
ties ; of which, none of them dare to par-
take till they have bathed therafelves. At
this feaft, notwithftanding they have fafted
fo long, they eat with grt at moderation ;
and the chief that preiides employs him-
felf in rehearling the feats of thofe who
have been moil: fuccefsful in the bufinefs
they are about to eiiter upon. They foon
after fet out on the march towards the
place appointed, painted or rather be-
daubed with black, amidil: the acclama-
tions of all the people.
It is impoffible to defcribe their agility
or perfeverance, whilfl they are in pur-
fuit of their prey; neither thickets, ditch-
es, torrents, pools, or rivers ftop them ;
they always go ftrait forward in the moft
direft line they poffibly can, and there
are few of the favage inhabitants of the
woods that they cannot overtake.
When they hunt for bears, they en-
deavour to find out their retreats ; for,
during the winter, thefe animals conceal
them-
[ 287 1
themfelv^es in the hollow trunks of trees,
or make themfelves holes in the ground,
"wheVe they continue without food, whilft
th<e fevere weather lafts.
When the Indians think they have ar-
rived at a place where thefe creatures ufu-
ally haunt, they form themfelves into a
circle according to their number, and
inoving onward, endeavour, as they ad-
vance towards the centre, to difcover the
retreats of their prey. By this means, if
any lie in the intermediate fpace, they are
fure of aroufing them, and bringing them
down either with their bows or their
guns. The bears will take to flight at
iight of a man or a dog, and will only
make refiflance when they are extremely
hungry, or after they are wounded.
The Indian method of hunting the
buffalo is by forming a circle or a fquare,
nearly in the lame manner as when they
fearch for the bear. Having taken their
different ftations, they fet the grafs, which
:at this time is rank and dry, on fire, and
thefe animals, who are extremely fearful
<y{ that element, flying with precipitation
before it, great numbers are hemmed in
ji fmali
[ ^88 ]
a fmall compafs, and fcarcely a fingle one
efcapes.
They have different ways of hunting
the elk, the deer, and the carribboo.
Sometimes they feek them out in the
woods, to which they retire during the
feverity of the cold, where they are eafily
jHiot from behind the trees. In the more
northern climates they take the advantage ,
of the weather to deAroy the elk ; when
the fun has juft ftrength enough to melt
the fnow, and the froft in the night forms
a kind of crufl on the furface, this crea-
ture being heavy, breaks It with his forked
hoofs, and with difficulty extricates him-
felf from it: at this time therefore he is
foon overtaken and deilroyed.
Some nations have a method of hunt-
ing thefe animals which Is more ealily
executed, and free from danger. The
hunting party divide themfelves into two
bands, and choofmg a fpot near the bor-
ders of fome river, one party embarks on
board their canoes, whilll; the other form-
ing themfelves into a femi-circle on the
land, the flanks of which reach the fhore,
let loofe their dogs, and by this means
roufe all the game that lies within thefe
bounds ;
[ ^^ ]
bounds ; they then drive them towards
the river, into which they no fooner enter,
than the greateft part of them are imme-
diately difpatched by thofe who remain in
the canoes.
Both the elk and the buffalo are very
furious when they are wounded, and will
return fiercely on their purfuers, and
trample them under their feet, if the
hunter finds not means to complete their
deflru6i:ion, or feeks for fecurity in flight
to fome adjacent tree ; by this method
they are frequently avoided, and fo tired
with the purfuit, that they voluntarily give
it over.
But the hunting in which the Indians,
particularly thofe who inhabit the north-
ern parts, chiefly employ themfelves, and
from which they reap the greateft advan-
tage, is the beaver hunting. The feafon
for this is throughout the whole of the
winter, from November to April ; during
which time the fur of thefe creatures is in
the greatefl perfection. A defcription of
this extraordinary animal, the conflruc-
tion of their huts, and the regulations of
their almoft rational community, I Ihall
give in another place.
T The
[ ^9^ ]
The hunters make ufe of feveral me-
thods to deflroy them. Thofe generally
pradlfed, are either that of taking them in
fnares, cutting through the ice, or open-
ing their caufeways.
As the eyes of thefe animals are very
quick, and their hearing exceedingly acute,
great precaution is neceffary in approaching
their abodes ; for as they feldom go far
from the water, and their houfes are al-
ways built clofe to the lide of fome large
river or lake, or dams of their own con-
ftruding, upon the leafl alarm they haftea
to the deepeft part of the water, and dive
immediately to the bottom ; as they do
this they make a great noife by beating
the water with their tails, on purpofe to
put the whole fraternity on their guard.
They take them with fnares in the
following manner : though the beavers ufu-
ally lay up a fufficient flore of provifion
to ferve for their fubfiftence during the
winter, they make from time to time ex-
curfions to the neighbouring woods to pro-
cure further fupplies of food. The hunt-
ers having found out their haunts, place
a trap in their way, baited with fmaii
pieces of bark, or young ihoots of trees,
which
[ 291 ]
which the beaver has no fooner laid hold
of, than a large log of wood falls upon
him, and breaks his back ; his enemies,
who are upon the watch, foon appear, and
inflantly difpatch the helplefs animal.
At other times, when the ice on the
rivers and lakes is about half a foot thick,
they make an opening through it w4th
their hatchets, to which the beavers will
foon hafl:en, on being difturbed at their
houfes, for a fupply of frefh air. As
their breath occafions a conliderable mo-'
tion in the waters, the hunter has fuf-
ficient notice of their approach, and me-
thods are eafily taken for knocking them
on the head the moment they appear above
the fur face.
When the houfes of the beavers happen
to be near a rivulet, they are more eaiily
deftroyed : the hunters then cut the ice,
and fp reading a net under it, break down
the cabins of the beavers, who never fail
to make towards the deepeft part, where
they are entangled and taken. But they
mtufl not be fufiered to remain there long,
as they would foon extricate themfelves
with their teeth, which are well known
to be exceilively fharp and flrong.
T z The
[ 292 ]
The Indians take great care to hinder
their dogs from touching the bones of the
beavers. The reafons they give for thefe
precautions, are, firfl that the bones are fo
exceflively hard, that they fpoil the teeth
of the dogs ; and, fecond ly, that they
are appreheniive they fliall fo exafperate
the fpirits of the beavers by this permif-
lion, as to render the next hunting feafon
nnfuccefsful.
The (kins of thefe animals the hunters
exchange with the Europeans for necef-
faries, and as they are more valued by the
latter than any other kind of furs, they
pay the greateft attention to this fpecies
of hunting.
When the Indians deftroy buffalos, elks,
deer, &c. they generally divide the flefh of
fuch as they have taken among the tribe
to which they belong. But in hunting
the beaver a few families ufually unite
and divide the fpoil between them. In-
deed, in the firft inftance they generally
pay fome attention in the divifion to their
ovv'n families ; but no jealoulies or mur-
murings are ever known to arife on ac-
count of any apparent partiality.
Among
[ 293 ]
Among the Naudoweflies, if a perfoii
fhoots a deer, buffalo, «&c. and it runs
to a conliderable distance before it drops,
where a perfon belonging to another tribe,
being nearer, firfc flicks a knife into it,
the game is confidered as the property
of the latter, notwithftanding it had
been mortally wounded by the former.
Though this cuftom appears to be arbi-
trary and unjufl:, yet that people cheer-
fully fubmit to it. This decKion is, how-
ever, very different from that praclifed
by the Indians on the back of the colo-
nies, where the firft perfon that hits it is
entitled to the beft fliare.
CHAPTER IX.
Of their Manner of making War, &c.
T
H E Indians begin to bear arms at
the age of fifteen, and lay them
afide when they arrive at the age of lixty.
Some nations to the fouthward, I have
been informed, do not continue their mili-
tary exercifes after they are fifty.
T 3 la
[ 294 ]
In every band or nation there is a fele£t
number who are ftiled the Warriors, and
who are always ready to a£l either ofFen-
iively or defenlively, as occafion requires.
Thefe are well armed, bearing the wea-
pons commonly in ufe among them, which
vary according to the lituation of thelr
countries. Such as have an intercourfe
with the Europeans make ufe of toma-
hawks, knives, and fire-arms ; but thofe
whofe dwellings are iituated to the weft-
ward of the MIffiffippI, and who have not
an opportunity of purchafing thefe kinds
of weapons, ufe bows and arrows, and
alfo the Caffe Tete or War-club.
The Indians that inhabit ftlll farther to
the weftward, a country which extends to
the South Sea, ufe in fight a warlike in-
flrument that is very uncommon. Hav-
ing great plenty of horfes, they always
attack their enemies on horleback, and en-
cumber themfelves with no other wea-
pon, than a ftone of a middling lize, cu-
rloufiy wrought, which they faften by
a ftring, about a yard and half long, to
their right arms, a little above the elbow.
Thefe ftones they conveniently carry in
their hands till they reach their enemies,
2, and
' [ ^9S ]
and then fwinging them with great dex-
terity, as they ride full fpeed, never fail
of doing execution. The country which
thefe tribes polfefs, aboundii:ig with large
extenfive plains, thofe who attack them
feldom return ; as the fwiftnefs of the
horfes on which they are mounted, en-
ables them to overtake even the neetefl of
their invaders.
The Naudoweffies, who had been at
war with this people, informed me, that
unlefs they found moraffes or tliickets to
which they could retire, they v/ere fure
of being cut oft : to prevent this they
always took care whenever they made
an onfet, to do it near fuch retreats as
were impallable for cavalry, they then
having a great advantage over their ene-
mies; whofe weapons would not there
reach them.
Some nations make ufe of a javelin
pointed v/ith bone worked into different
forms ; but their Indian weapons in ge-
neral are bows and arrows, and the fliort
club already mentioned. The latter is
made of a very hard wood, and the head
of it fafhioned round like a ball, about
three inches and a half diameter ; in this
T 4 rotund
[ 296 ']
rotund part is fixed an edge refembrmg
that of a tomahawk, either of fteel or flint,
whichever they can procure ; fimfiar to
that reprefented in Plate N° IV.
The dagger placed near it in the fame
plate, is peculiar to the Naudoweffie na-
tion, and of ancient conflrudion, but they
can give ho account how long it has been
in ule among them. It was originally
made of Unit or bone, but fince they
have had communication with the Euro-
pean traders, they have formed it of fleel.
The length of it is about ten inches, and
that part ciofe to the handle nearly three
inches broad. Its edges are keen, and it
gradually tapers towards a point. They
wear it in a iheath made of deer's leather,
neatly ornamented with porcupine quills ;
and it is ufually hung by a ftring, deco-
rated in the lame manner, which reaches
as low only as the breafl. This curious
weapon is worn by a few of the principal
chiefs alone, and confidered both as an
iifeful inftrument, and an ornamental badge
of fuperiority.
I obferved among the NaudowTffies a
few tarpcts or ihields made of raw buffalo
hides, and in tlie form of thofe ufed by
the
[ 297 ]
the ancients. But as the number of thefe
was fmall, and I could gaui no intelli-
gence of the asra in which they firft were
introduced among them, I fuppofe thofe
I faw had defcended from father to fon for
many generations.
The reafons the Indians give for mak-
ing war againfl one another, are much
the fame as thofe urged by more civilized
nations for diflurbing the tranquillity of
their neighbours. The pleas of the for-
mer are however in general more rational
and juft, than fuch as are brought by
Europeans in vindication of their proceed-
' ings.
The extenfion of empire is feldom a
motive with thefe people to invade, and
to commit depredations on the territories
of thofe who happen to dwell near them.
To fecure the rights of hunting with-
in particular limits, to maintain the li-
berty of palling through their accuftomed
tracks, and to guard thofe lands which
they confider from a long tenure as their
own, againil: any infringement, are the
general caufes of thofe dilleniions that fo
often break out between the Indian na-
tions, and which are carried on with fo
much
[ 298 ]
much animoiity. Though Grangers to
the idea of feparate property, yet the .moil:
uncultivated among them are well ac-
quainted with the rights of their com-
munity to the domains they pofieis, and
oppofe with vigour every encroachment on
them.
Notwithftanding it is generally fup-
pofed that from their territories being fo
extenfive, the boundaries of them cannot
be afcertained, yet I am well allured that
the limits of each nation in the interior
parts are laid down in their rude plans
with great precilion. By theirs, as I have
before obferved, was I enabled to regulate
my own ; and after the moft exadl obfer-
vations and enquiries found very few in-
{lances in which they erred.
But intereH: is not either the moft fre-
quent or mofl powerful incentive to their
making war on each other. The paffion
of revenge, which is the diftingui(hing
charafteriftic of thefe people, is the mofh
general motive. Injuries are felt by them
' with exquifite fenfibility, and vengeance
purfued with unremitted ardour. To
this may be added, that natural excita-
tion v/hich' every Indian becomes fen-
flble
[ 299 ]
fible of as fbon as he approaches the age of
manhood to give proofs of his valour and
prowefs.
As they are early poffcfled with a no-
tion that war ouo-ht to be the chief bull-
o
nefs of their lives, that there is nothing
more deiirous than the reputation of be-
ing a great warrior, and that the fcalps of
their enemies or a number of prifondrs are
alone to be efleemed valuable, it is not to
be wondered at that the younger Indians
are continually reftlefs and uneafy if their
ardour is reprefied, and they are kept in
a ftate of inadivity. Either of thefe pro-
penfities, the defire of revenge, or the gra-
tification of an impulfe that by degrees
becomes habitual to them, is fufficient,
frequently, to induce them to commit
hofrllities on fome of the neighbouring
nations.
When the chiefs find any occafion for
making war, they endeavour to aroule
thele habitudes, and by that means foon
excite their warriors to take arms. To
this purpofe they make ufe of their mar-
tial eloquence nearly in the following
words, which never fails of proving ef-
fe6lual: '« The bones of our deceafed
" country-
[ 30® ]
countrymen lie uncovered, they call
out to us to revenge their wrongs,
and we mufl fatisfy their requeft.
Their fpirits cry out againfl: us, they
mufl: be appeafed. The genii, who
are the guardians of our honour,
infpire us with a refolution to feek
the enemies of our murdered bro-
thers. Let us go and devour thofe by
whom they were flain. Sit therefore
no longer ina6live, give way to the
impulfe of your natural valour, anoint
your hair, paint your faces, fill your
quivers, caufe the forefts to refound
w^ith your fongs, confole the fpirits of
the dead, and tell them they fhall be
revenged."
Animated by thefe exhortations the
w^arriors fnatch their arms in a tranfport
of fury, ling tlie fong of war, and burn
with impatience to imbrue their hands in
the blood of their enemies.
Som^t times private chiefs affemble fmall
parties, and make excuriions againfl thole
with whom they are at war, or fuch as
have injured them. A fingle warrior,
prompted by revenge or a delire to fhow
his prowefs, will march unattended for
2 feveral
t.
" [ 301 ]
feveral hundred miles, to fLirprize and cut
off a ftraggllng party.
Thefe irregular lallies, however, are
not always approved of by the elder
chiefs, though they are often obliged to
connive at them ; as in the inilance be-
fore given of the Naudoweffie and Chipe-
way nations.
But when a war is national, and un-
dertaken by the community, their deli-
berations are formal and flow. The elders
affemble in council, to which all the
head warriors and young men are ad-
mitted, where they deliver their opinions
in folemn fpeeches, weighing with ma-
turity the nature of the enterprize they
are about to engage in, and balancing
with great lagacity the advantages or in-
conveniences that will ariie from it.
Their priefls are alfb confulted on the
fubje6:, and even, fometimes, the advice
of the moil intelligent of their women is
alked.
If the determination be for war, they
prepare for it with much ceremony.
The chief warrior of a nation does not
on all occafions head the war party him-
felf, he frequently deputes a warrior of
whofe
[ 3^2 ]
v.'Iiofe valour r.nd prudence he has a good
opinion. The perion thus fixed on being
firft bedawbed with black, obferves a faft
of feveral days, during which he invokes
the Great Spirit, or deprecates the anger
of the evil ones, holding whilft it lafts
no converfe with any of his tribe.
He is particularly careful at the fame
time to obferve his dreams, for on thefe
do they fiippofe their fuccefs will in a
great meafure depend ; and from the firm
perfualion every Indian actuated by his
own prefumptuous thoughts is imprelfed
with, that he fhall march forth to certain
vidory, thefe are generally favourable to
his v/ilhes.
After he has fafted as long as cuflom
prefcribes, he afiembles the warriors, and
holding a belt of wampum in his hand
thus addrelies them :
" Brothers ! by the infpiration of the
*' Great Spirit I now fpeak unto you,
" and by him am I prompted to carry
" into execution the intentions which I
" am about to difclofe to you. The
" blood of our deceafed brothers is not
" yet wiped away; their bodies are not
" yet
t 3^3 ]
*' yet covered, and I am going to per-
" form this duty to tliem."
Having then made known to them all
the motives that induce him to take up
arms again ft the nation with whom they
are to engage, he thus proceeds: " I have
" therefore refblved to march through
" the war-path to furprize them. We
" will eat their flefli and drink their
" blood; we will take fcalps, and make
" prifoners ; aiid fhoiild we periih in
" this glorious enterprize, we fhall not
" be for ever hid in the dufl:, for this
" belt fhall be a recompence to him who
*' buries the dead." Having faid this,
he lays the belt on the ground, and he
who takes it up declares himfelf his lieu-
tenant, and is coniidered as the fecond in
command; this, however, is only done
by fome diflinguifhed warrior who has a
right, by the number of his fcalps, to
the pofl. i
Though the Indians thus aflert that
they will eat the flefh and drink the
blood of their enemies, the threat is only
to be confidered as a figurative exprefiion,
Notwithflandinp' thev fometimes devour
the hearts of thofe they flay, and drink
their
[ 3^4 ]
their blood, by way of bravado, or to
gratify in a more complete manner their
revenge, yet they are not naturally an-
thropophagi, nor ever tctd on the flefh of
men.
The chief is now waflied from his
fable covering, anointed wath bears fat,
and painted, with their red paint, in fuch
figures as will make him appear moft ter-
rible to his enemies. He then fings the
war long, and enumerates his warlike ac-
tions. Having done this he fixes his eyes
on the fun, and pays his adorations to
the Great Spirit, in which he is accom-
panied by all the warriors.
This ceremony is followed with dances,
fuch as I have before defcribed; and the
whole concludes with a feaft which ufu*
ally confifts of dogs flefli.
This feail: is held in the hut or tent
of the chief warrior, to which all thofe
who intend to accompany him in his ex-
pedition fend their diflies to be filled ; and
during the feaft, notwithflanding he has
failed fo long, he fits compofedly with
his pipe in his mouth, and recounts the
valorous deeds of his family.
[ 3^5 ]
As the hopes of having their wounds,
Hiould they receive any, properly treated,
and expeditloufly cured, muft be fome ad-
ditional inducement to the warriors to ex-
pofe themfelves more freely to danger, the
priefls, who are alio their doctors, prepare
fuch medicines as will prove efficacious.
With great ceremony they colle(£l various
roots and plants, and pretend that they
impart to them the power of healing.
Nowithftanding this fuperflitious me-
thod of proceeding, it is very certain that
they have acquired a knowledge of many
plants and herbs that are of a medicinal
quality, and which they know how to ufe
with great Ikill.
From the time the refolutlon of engag-
ing in a war is taken, to the departure of
the warriors, the nights are fpent in fefti-
vlty, and their days in making the need-
ful preparations.
If it is thought neceffary by the na-
tion going to war, to folicit the alliance
of any neighbouring tribe, they fix upon
one of their chiefs who fpeaks the lan-
guage of that people well, and who is a
good orator, and fend to them by him a
U ' belt
[ 3o6 ]
belt of wampum, on which is fpecifiec!
the purport of the embaffy in figures that
every nation is well acquainted with. At
the fame time he carries with him a
hatchet painted red.
As foon as he reaches the camp or vil-
lage to which he is deflined, he acquaints
the chief of the tribe with the general
tenor of his commiffion, who immediately
affembles a council, to which the ambai-
fador is invited. There having laid the
hatchet on the ground he holds the belt
in his hand, and enters more minutely
into the occalion of his embafly. In his
fpeech he invites them to take up the
hatchet, and as foon as he has finifhed
fpeaking delivers the belt.
If his hearers are inclined to become
auxiliaries to his nation, a chief fteps
forward and takes up the hatchet, and
they immediately efpoufe with fpirit the
caufe they have thus engaged to fupport.
But if on this application neither the belt
or hatchet are accepted, the emiil'ary con-
cludes that the people whofe affiftance he
follcits have already entered into an alli-
ance with the foes of his nation, and re-
5 turns
i 307 ]
turns witli fpeed to inform his country-*
men of his ill fuccefs.
The manner in which the Indians de-
clare war againft each other, is by fend-
ing a flave with a hatchet, the handle
of which is painted red, to the nation
which they intend to break with ; and
the meflenger, notwithfta;>ding the dan-
ger to which he is expofed from the fud-
den fnry of thole whom he thus fets at de-
fiance, executes his eommiffion with great
fidelity.
Sometimes this token of defiance has
fuch an inflantaneous effect on thofe to
whom it is prefented, that in the firft
tranfports of their fury a fmall party will
iflue forth, without waiting for the per-
iniffion of the elder chiefs, and flaying
the firft of the offending nation they meet,
cut open the body and flick a hatchet of
the fame kind as that they hav^e juO: re-
ceived, into the heart of their flaughtered
foe. Among the more remote tribes this
is done with an arrow or fpear, the end of
which is painted red. And the more to
exafperate, they difmember the body, to
fhow that they efleem them not as men
but as old women.
U 2 The
[ 308 ]
The Indians feldom take the field in
large bodies, as fucli numbers would re-
■quire a greater degree of induftry to pro-
vide for their fubfiftence, during their te-
dious marches through dreary forefts, or
long voyages over lakes and rivers, than
they would care to beftow.
Their armies are never encumbered
with baggage or military ftores. Each
warrior, belides his weapons, carries with
him only a mat, and whiHl at a dlftance
from the frontiers of the enemy fupports
himfelf with the game he kills or the fi(h
he catches.
When they pafs through a country
where they have no appreheniions of meet-
ing with an enemy, they ule very little
precaution : fometimes there are fcarcely a
dozen warriors left together, the refl: be-
ing difperfed in purfuit of their game;
but though they fhould have roved to a
very coniiderable diftance from the war-
path, they are fure to arrive at the place
of rendezvous by the hour appointed.
They always pitch their tents long
before fun-fet ; and being naturally pre-
fumptuous take very little care to guard
againfh
[ 3'^9 ]
agalnft a furprize. They place great
confidence in their Manitons, or houf-
hold gods, which they always carry with
them ; and being perfuaded that they
take upon them the office of centinels,
they fleep very fecurely under their pro-
te6tion.
Thefe Manltous, as they are called
by fome nations, but which are termed
Wakons, that is, fpirits, by the Naudo-
weflies, are nothing more than the otter
and martins fkins I have already defcribed,
for which, however, they have a great
veneration.
After they have entered the enemies
country, no people can be more cautious
and circumfpecl ; fires are no longer light-
ed, no more fliouting is heard, nor the
game any longer purfued. They are not
even permitted tofpeak ; but muft convey
whatever they have to impart to each other
by figns and motions.
They now proceed wholly by ftrat;;-
gem and ambuicade. Having diicovered
their enemies, they fend to reconnoitre
them; and a council is immediately held,
during which they fpeak only in whifpcrs,
U 3 . to
I 3i« ]
to conilder of the intelligence imparted by
thole who were fent out.
The attack is generally made jufl be--
fore day-break, at which period they fup-r
pofe their foes to be in the foiindeil: fleep,
Throughout the whole of the preceding
night they will lie flat upon their faces,
without ftirring ; and make their ap-
proaches in the fame pofture, creeping
upon their hands and feet till they are got
within bow-fliot of thofe they have def-
tined to deftru6tion. On a fignal given
by the chief warrior, to which the whole
body makes anfwer by the moft hideous
yells, they all flart up, and difchargiiig
their arrows in the fame inflant, without
giving their adverfaries tim.e to recover
from the confuiion into which they are
thrown, pour in upon them with their
war-clubs or tomahawks.
The Indians think there is little glory
to be acquired from at^ackijig their ene-
mies openly in the field ; their greateft
pride is to furprize and deftroy. They fel-
dom engage without a man ifefl appearance
ot advantage. If they find the enemy on
their guard, too ftrongly entrenched, or
fuperior
[ 3" ]
fuperior in numbers, they retire, pro-
vided their is an opportunity of doing
fo. And tliey efteem it the greateft qua-
lification of a chief warrior, to be able to
manage an attack, fo as to deftroy as many
of the enemy as poflible, at the expence of
a few men.
Sometimes they fecure themfelves be-
hind trees, hillocks, or flones, and hav-
ing given one or two rounds retire before
they are difcovered. Europeans, who are
unacquainted with this method of fighting
too often find to their cofl the deftrudive
efiicacy of it.
General Braddock was one of this un-
happy number. Marching in the year
1755, to attack Fort Du Quefne, he was
intercepted by a party of French and con-
federate Indians in their interefl, who by
this infidlous method of engaging found
means to defeat his army, which confifted
of about two thoufand brave and well-
difciplined troops. So fecurely were the
Indians pofted, that the Engllfh fcarcely
knew from whence or by whom they
were thus annoyed. During the whole
of the engagement the latter had fcarcely
a light of an enemy ; and were obliged
U 4 ' to
[ 3^2 ]
to retreat without the fatlsfadion of being-
able to take the leaft degree of revenge
for the havock made among them. The
General paid for his temerity with his
life, and was accompanied in his fall by a
preat number of brave fellows ; whilft his
invjfible enemies had only two or three of
their number wounded.
When the Indians fucceed in their
filent approaches, and are able to force the
camp which they attack, a fcene of hor-
ror, that exceeds defcription, enfues. The
favage fiercenefs of the conquerors, and
the defperation of the conquered, who well
know what they have to expert fhouid
they fall alive into the hands of their af-
failants, occafion the mofl: extraordinry
exertions on both fides. The figure of
vhe combatants all befmeared with black
and red paint, and covered with the blood
of the flain, their horrid yells, and un-
governable fury, are not to be conceived
by thofe who have never croffed the At-
lantic.
I have frequently been a fpeftatcr of
tlicm, and once bore a part in a fimilar
fcen.e. But what added to the horror
of it was, that I had not the confolation
of
[ 3^3 1
of being able to oppofe tbeir favnge at-
tacks. Every ciicumftance of tbe adven-^
ture ftlll dwells on my remembrance, and
enables me to defcribe with greater per-
fpicuity the brutal herccnefs of the Indians
when tihey have furprized or overpowered
an enemy.
As a detail of the maffacre at Fort
William Henry in the year 1757, the
fcene to which I refer, cannot appear fo-
reign to the delign of this publication, but
will ferve to give my readers a jull: idea
of the ferocity of this people, I fhall take
the liberty to infert it, apologizing at
the fame time for the length of the di-
grefFion, and thofe egotifms which the
relation renders unavoidable.
General Webb, who commanded the
Englifli army in North America, which
was then encamped at Fort Edward, havr
ing intelligence that the French troops
under Monf. Montcalm were making
fome movements towards Fort William
Henry, he detached a corps of about fif-
teen hundred men, coniifting of Engiifli
and Provincials, to ftrengthen the garrifon.
Jn this parry I went as a. volunteer among
the latter.
The
[ 3^4 ]
The apprehenfions of the Englifh Ge-
neral were not without foundation ; for
the day after our arrival we faw Lake
George (formerly Lake Sacrament) to
which it lies contiguous, covered with an
immenfe numher of boats ; and in a few
hours we found our lines attacked by the
French General, who had juft landed with
eleven thoufand Regulars and Canadians,
and two thoufand Indians. Colonel Monro,
a brave officer, commanded in the Fort,
and had no more than two thoufand three
hundred men with him, our detachment
included.
With thefe he made a gallant defence,
and probably would have been able at
laft to p refer ve the Fort, had he been
properly fupported, and permitted to con-
tinue his efforts. On every fummons to
furrender fent by the French General,
who offered the mofl honourable terms,
his anfwer repeatedly was, ^That he yet
found himfelf in a condition to repel the
mofl: vigorous attacks his beliegers were
able to make ; and if he thought his pre-
fent force infufficient, he could foon be
fupplied with a greater number from the
adjacent army.
But
[ 3^5 ]
But the Colonel having acquainted
General Webb with his fituation, and
jdefired he would fend him fome frcfh
troops, the general difpatched a nieflenger
to him with a letter, whereing he informed
him that it was not in his power to aiiift
him, and therefore gave him orders to lur-
render up the Fort on the beil terms he
could procure. This packet fell into the
hands of the French General, who im-
mediately fent a flag of truce, defiring a
conference with the governor.
They accordingly met, attended only
by a fmall guard, in the centre between
the lines ; when Monf. Montcalm told
the Colonel, that he was come in perfou
to demand pofleflion of the Fort, as it be-
longed to the King his mafter. The Co-
lonel replied, that he knew not how that
could be, nor fhould he furrender it up
whilft it was in his power to defend it.
The French General rejoined, at the
fame tvue delivering the packet into the
Colonel's hand, " By this authority do
" I make the requiiition.'* The brave
Governor had no fooner read the contents
of it, and was convinced that fuch were
the orders of the commander in chief, and
not
[ 3'6 ]
not to be difobeyed, than he hung his head
in fileiice, and reludantlj entered into a
negociation.
In confideration of the gallant defence
the garrifon had made, they were to be
permitted to march out with ail the ho-
nours of war, to be allowed covered wag-
gons to tranfport their baggage to Fort
Edward, and a guard to protect them from
the fury of the lavages.
The morning after the capitulation was
figned, as foon as day broke, the whole
garrifon, now confifting of about tw^o
thouiand men, beiides women and chil-
dren, were drawn up within the lines,
and on the point of marching off, when
great numbers of the Indians gathered
about, and began to plunder. We were
at firft in hopes that this was their only
view, and fuffered them to proceed with-
out oppofition. Indeed it w^as not in our
power to make any, had we been fo
inclined ; for though we were permit-
ted to carry off our arms, yet we were
not allowed a lingie round of ammuni-
tion. In thefe hopes however we v/ere
dilappointed : for prefently fome of them
began to attack the fick and wounded,
when
[ 3^7 ]
\vlien fuch as were not able to crawl into
the ranks, notwithftanding they endea-
voured to avert the fury of their enemies
by their (hrieks or groans, were foon dif-
patched.
• Here we were fully in expectation that
the difturbance would have concluded ;
and our little army began to move ; but
in a fhort time we faw the front diviiion
driven back, and difcovered that we were
entirely encircled by the favages. We
expelled every moment that the guard,
which the French, by the articles of capi-
tulation, had agreed to allow us, would
have arrived, and put an end to our ap-
preheniions ; but none appeared. The
Indians now began to ftrip every one
without exception of their arms and
cloaths, and thofe who made the leafl: re-
finance felt the weight of their toma-
hawks.
I happened to be in the rear diviiion,
but it was not long before I fliared the
fate of my companions. Three or four
of the favages laid hold of me, and whilfl
fome held their weapons over my head,
the others foon difrobed me of my coat,
waiftcoat, hat, and buckles, omitting not
to
t 3'8 ]
to take from me what money I had in
my pocket. As this was tranfaded clole
by the palTage that led from the lines on
to the plain, near which a French cen-
tinel was pofled, I ran to him and claim-
ed his protection ; but he only called me
an Englifli dog, and thrufl: me with vio-
lence back again into the midi^ of the In-
dians,
I now endeavoured to join a body of
our troops that were crowded together at
fome diftance; but innumerable were the
blows that were made at me with differ-
ent weapons as I paffed on ; luckily how-
ever the favages were fo clofe together,
that they could not ftrike at me with-
out endangering each other. Notwith*
ftandlng which one of them found means
to make a thrufl: at me with a ipear,
which grazed my fide, and from another
I received a vvound, with the fame kind
of weapon, in my anle. At length I
gained the fpot where my countrymen
flood, and forced myfelf into the midfl:
of them. But before I got thus far out
of the hands of the Indians, the collar
and v/rill:bands of my fliirt were all that
remained of it, and my flefli was fcratched
and
[ 3^9 ]
and torn in many places by their favage
gripes.
By this time the war-hoop was given,
and the Indians began to murder thofe
that were neareft to them without diflinc-
tion. It is not in the power of words to
give any tolerable idea of the horrid fcene
that now enfued ; men, women, and chil-
dren were difpatched in the moft wanton
and cruel manner, and immediately fcalped.
Many of thele favages drank the blood of
their vi6lims, as it flowed warm from the
fatal wound.
We now perceived, though too late
to avail us, that we were to expe£t no
relief from the French ; and that, con-
trary to the agreement they had fo lately
figned to allow us a fufficient force to
proted us from thefe infults, they ta-
citly permitted them ; for I could plain-
ly perceive the French officers walking
about at fome diftance, difcourfing together
with apparent unconcern. For the ho-
nour of human nature I v/ould hope that
this flagrant breach of every facred laWj
proceeded rather from the favage difpo-
lition of the Indians, which I acknow-
ledge it is fometimes almofl impoffible
to
[ S20 ]
to controiil, and which might now nn'ex*
pe(£tedly have arrived to a pitch not eafily
to be reflrained, than to any premeditated
delign in the French commander. An
unprejudiced obferver would, however,
be apt to conclude, that a body of ten
thouland chriftlan troops, moft chriftian
troops, had it in their power to prevent
the malTacre from becoming fo general.
But whatever was the caufe from which
it arofe, the confequences of it were dread-
ful, and not to be paralleled in modern
hiftory.
As the circle in which I flood inclofed
by this time was much thinned, and death
feemed to be approaching with hafty
flrides, it was propofed by fome of the
moft refolute to make one vigorous effort,
and endeavour to force our way through
the favages, the only probable method of
preferving our lives that now remained.
This, however defperate, was refolved on,
and about twenty of us fprung at once
into the midfl of them.
In a moment we were all feparated,
and what was the fate of my companions
I could not learn till fome months after,
when I found that only fxx or {even of
them-
i 321 ]
tncm effected their deiign. Intent only
on my own hazardous iituation, I en-
deavoured to make my way through my
favage enemies in the heft manner pol-
iible. And I have often been aftonilhed
fince, when I have recolleded with what
compolure I took, as I did, every ne-
Gefiary flep for my prefervation. Some
I overturned, being at that time young
and athletic, and others I paffcd by^
dextroully avoiding their v/eapons; till
at laft two very ftout chiefs, of the
mofl: favage tribes, as 1 could diftinguifh
by their drefs, whofa firength I could
not refill:, laid hold of me by each arm,
and began to force me through the
crowd.
I now refigned myfelf to my fate, not
doubting but that they intended to dif-
patch me, and then to fatiate their venge-
ance with my blood, as I found they
w^ere hurrying me tov/ards a retired
fwamp that lay at fome diftance. But be-
fore we had got many yards, an Engiiih
gentleman of fome diflin6lion, as I could
difcover by his breecheSj the only cover-
ing he had on, which were of fine fear-
let velvet, rufhed clofe by us* One of
X the
[ 322 ]
the Indians inflantly rellnqulfhed his
hold, and fpringing on this new objeO:,
endeavoured to feize him as his prey ;
but the gentleman being ftrong, threw
him on the ground, and would probably
have got away, had not he who held my
other arm, quitted me to aflill: his bro-
ther. I feized the opportunity, and haft-
ened away to join another party of Eng-
iifli troops that were yet unbroken, and
flocd in a body at fome diftance. But
before I had taken many fteps, I haftily
caft my eye towards the gentleman, and
faw the Indian's tomahawk gafh into
his back, and heard him utter his laft
groan ; this added both to my fpeed and
defperation.
I had left this fliocklng fcene but a few
yards, when a fine boy about tv\Aelve years
of age, that had hitherto efcaped, came
up to me, and begged that I would let
him lay hold of me, fo that he might
Hand fome chance of getting out of the
hands of the favages. I told him that I
would give him every affiftance in my
power, and to this purpofe bid him lay
hold ; but in a few moments he was torn
from my lide, and by his flirieks I judge
5 ' "was
{ 3^3 ]
was foon demolifhed. I could not help
forgetting my own cares for a minute, to
lament the fate of i'o young a fufferer ;
but it was utterly impoffibie for me to
take any methods to prevent it.
I now got once more into the midfl
of friends, but we were unable to afford
each other any fuccour. As this was the
divilion that had advanced the furtheft
from the fort, I thought there might be
a poffibility (though but a very bare one)
of my forcing my way through the outer
ranks of the Indians, and getting to a
neighbouring wood, which I perceived at
fome diflance. I was ftill encouraged to
hope by the almoll: miraculous prefervation
I had already experienced.
Nor were my hopes vain, or the ef-
forts I made ineffe6lual. Suffice it to
fay that I reached the wood ; but by the
time I had penetrated a little way into it,
my breath was fo exhaufted that I threw
myfelf into a brake, and lay for fome
minutes apparently at the lafl galp. At
length I recovered the power of respi-
ration ; but my apprehenfions returned
with all their former force, when I faw
feveral favages pafs by, probably in pur-
X 2 fuit
[ 3^4 1
fuit of me, at no very great dlftance. In
this {ituation I knew not whether it was
better to proceed, or endeavour to conceal
myfelf where 1 lay, till night came on ;
fearing, however, that they would return
the fame way, I thought it moft prudent
to get farther from the dreadful fcene of
my pad diftrefies. Accordingly, ftriking
into another part of the wood, I haftened
on as fafl: as tlie briars and the lofs of one
of my flioes would permit me ; and after
a (low progrefs of fome hours, gained a
hill that overlooked the plain which I
had jufl: left, from whence T could dif-
cern that the bloody florm ftill raged v/ith
unabated fury.
But not to tire my readers, I fliall
only add, that after paffing three days
without fubiiftcnce, and enduring the fe-
verity of the cold dews for three nights,
I at length reached Fort Edward ; where
with proper care my body ioon recovered
its wonted flrength, and my mind, as
far as the recolledion of the late melan-
choly events would permit, its ulual com-
pofure.
Jt was computed that fifteen hundred
perfons were killed or made prifoners by
thefe
[ 3^-5 ]
thele favages during this fatal day. Many
of the latter were carried off by them and
never returned. A few, through flwour-
able accidents, found their way back to
tiieir native country, after having experi-
enced a long and fevere captivity.
The brave Colonel Monro had haftened
away, foon after the confuiion began, to
the French camp to endeavour to pro-
cure the guard agreed by the ftipulation ;
but -his application proving ineffeclual, he
remained there till General Webb fent a
party of troops to demand and protect him
back to Fort Edward. But thefe un-
happy occurrences, which would proba-
bly have been prevented, had he been
left to purfue his own plans, together with
the lofs of fo many brave fellows, mur-
dered in coM blood, to whofe valour he
had been fo lately a witnefs, made fuch
an imprellion on his mind, that he did
not long furvive. He died in about three
months of a broken heart, and with truth
might it be faid, that he was an honour
to his country.
I mean not to point out the following
circumftance as the immediate judgment
of heaven, and intended as an atonement
X 3 for
[ 3^6 ]
for this {laughter ; hut I cannot omit that
very few of thofe different trihes of In-
dians that fiiared in it ever lived to return
home. The fmall pox, by means of their
communication with the Europeans, found
its way among them, and made an
equal havock to what they themfelves had
done. The methods they purfued on the
firft attack of that maUgnant diforder, to
abate the fever attending it, rendered it
fatah Whilll: their blood was in a ftate
of fermentation, and nature was driving
to throw out the peccant matter, they
checked her operations by plunging into
the water : the confequence was, that
they died by hundreds. The few that
furvived were transformed by it into hi-
deous objects, and bore with them to the
grave deep indented marks of this much-
dreaded difeafe.
Monfieur Montcalm fell foon after on
the plains of Quebec.
That the unprovoked cruelty of this
commander was not approved of by the
generality of his countrymen, 1 have
iince been convinced of by many proofs.
One only however, which I received
from a perfon who was witnefs to it,
fhall
[ ?>^1 ]
Ihall I at prefent give. A Canadian
merchant, of fome confideration, having
heard of the furrender of the EngUfh
Fort, celebrated the fortunate event with
great rejoicings and hofpitaUty, according
to the cuilom of that country ; but no
Iboner did the news of the maflacre which
enfued reach his ears, than he put an
immediate ftop to the feftivity, and ex-
claimed in the fevered: terms againft the
inhuman permiffion ; declaring at the fame
time that thofe who had connived at it,
had thereby drawn down on that part
of their king's dominions the vengeance
of heaven. To this he added, that he
much feared the total lofs of them would
defervedly be the confequence. How
truly this predidlion has been verified we
all know.
But to return — Though the Indians are
negligent in guarding againil: furprizes,
they are alert and dextrous in furprizing
their enemies. To their caution and per-
feverance in ftealing on the party they
defign to attack, they add that admir-
able talent, or rather inftinclive qualifi-
cation, I have already defcribed, of trac-
ing out thofe they are in purfuit of. On
X 4 the
[ 3^8 1
the fmootheft giafs, on the hardefl earth,
and even on the very ftones, will they
dilcover the traces of an enemy, and by
the (liape of the footfleps, and the diftance
between the prhits, diftinguiih not only
whether it is a man or woman who has
paffed that way, but even the nation to
which they belong. However incredi-
ble this might appear, yet, from the many
proofs I received whilft among them of
their amazing fagacity in this point, I lee
no reafon to difcredit even thefe extraordi-
nary exertions of it.
When they have overcome an enemy,
and viilory is no longer doubtful, the
conquerors hrft dilpatch all fuch as they
think they (hail not be able to carry off
without great trouble, and then endeavour
to take as many priloners as poflible ; after
tl)is they return to fcalp thofe who are
either dead, or too much wounded to be
taken with them.
At this bufinefs they are exceedingly
expert. They feize the head of the dif-
abled or dead enemy, and placing one
of their feet on the neck, twifl: their
lett hand in the hair ; by this means,
having extended the ikin that covers the
top
[ 3^9 ]
top of the head, they draw out then* fcalp-
ing knives, which are ahvays kept in good
order for this cruel purpofe, and with a
few dextrous flrokes take off the part that
is termed the fcalp. They are fo expe-
ditious in doing this, that the whole time
required fcarcely exceeds a minute. Thefe
they preferve as monuments of their prow-
efs, and at the fame time as proofs of
the vengeance they have inflided on their
enemies.
If two Indians feize in the fame in-
fant a prifoner, and feem to have an equal
claim, the conteft between them is foon
decided ; for to put a fpeedy end to any
difpute that might arife, the perfon that
is apprehenlive he fiiall lofe his expcvSlcd
reward, immediately has recourfe to his
tomahawk or war-club, and knocks on
the head- the unhappy caufe of their con-
tention.
Having com.pletcd their purpofcs, and
made as much havock as poilible, they im-
mediately retire towards their own coun-
try, with the fpoil they have acquired,
for fear of being purfued.
Should this be the cafe, they make ufs
of many ftratagems to elude the learches
of
[ 33'^ ]
of their purfuers. They fometimes fcat-
ter leaves, fand, or dufl: over the prints
of their feet ; fometimes tread in each
others footfteps ; and fometimes lift their
feet fo high, and tread fo lightly, as not
to make any impreffion on the ground.
But if they find all thefe precautions
unavailing, and that they are near being
overtaken, they firft difpatch and fcalp
their prifoners, and then dividing, each
endeavours to regain his native country
by a different route. This prevents all
farther purfuit ; for their purfuers now
defpairing, either of gratifying their
revenge, or of releafuig thofe of their
friends who were made captives, return
home.
If the fuccefsful party is fo lucky as
to make good their retreat unmolefted,
they haftcn with the greateft expedition
to reach a country where they may be
perfedly fecure ; and that their wounded
companions may not retard their flight,
they carry them by turns in litters, or if
it is in the winter feafbn draw them on
fiedges.
Their litters are made in a rude maiiner
of the branches of trees. Their Hedges
confiil
[ 33^ ]
coiafifl: of two fmall thin boards about a
foot wide when joined, and near fix feet
long. The fore part is turned up, and
the fides are bordered with fmall bands.
The Indians draw thefe carriages with
great eafe, be they ever fo much loaded,
by means of a ftring whicli pafl'es round
the breaft. This collar is called a Me-
tump, and is in ufe throughout America,
both in the fettlements and the internal
parts. Thofe ufed in the latter are made
of leather, and very curioufly wrought.
The prifoners during their march are
guarded with the greatefl: care. During
the day, if the journey is over land, they
are always held by fome of the vidlorious
party ; if by water, they are faftened to
the canoe. In the night-time they are
ftretched along the ground quite naked,
with their legs, arms, and neck faftened
to hooks fixed in the ground. Befides
this, cords are tied to their arms or legs,
which are held by an Indian, who in-
flantly awakes at the leaft motion of
them.
Notwithftanding fuch precautions are
•ufually taken by the Indians, it is re-
corded in the annals of New England,
that
that one of the weaker iex, almofl: alone,
and unaffiil:ed, found means to elude the
vigilance of a party of warriors, and not
only to make her efcape from them, but
to revenge the caufe of her countrymen.
Some years ago, a fm^all band of Cana-
dian Indians, confifting of ten warriors
attended by two of their wives, made an
irruption into the back fettlements of
New England. They lurked for fome
time in the vicinity of one of the mod ex-
terior towns, and at length, after having
killed and fcalped leveral people, found
iTieans to take prifoner a woman who had
with her a fon of about twelve years of
age. Being latisfied with the execution
they had done, they retreated towards their
native country, which lay at three hundred
miles diftance, and carried off with them
their two captives.
The fecond night of their retreat, the
woman, whofename, if I miftake not, was
Rowe, form.ed a refolution worthy of the
moft intrepid hero. She thought fhe
lliould be able to get from her hands the
manacles by which they were confined,
and determjned if file did fo to make a
deiperate efibrt for the recovery of her
freedom.
[ 233 ]
freedom. To this purpofe, when fhe con-
cluded that her conquerors were in their
foundeft fleep, fhe ftrove to flip the cords
from lier hands. In this (he fucceeded ;
and cautioning her fon, whom they had
fuffered to go unbound, in a whifper,
againft being furprized at what flie was
about to do, fhe removed to a diftance with
great warinefs the defeniive weapons of
the Indians, which lay by their iides.
Having done this, fhe put one of the
tomahawks into the hands of the boy,
bidding him to follow her example ; and
taking another herfelf, fell upon the keep-
ing Indians, feveral of whom fhe inflantly
difpatched. But her attempt was nearly
fruftrated by the imbecility of her fon,
who wanting both flrength and refolution ,
made a feeble flroke at one of them, which
only ferved to awaken him ; fhe however
iprung at the rifmg warrior, and before he
could recover his arms, made him link
under the weight of her tomahawk ; and
this fhe alternately did to all the refl:, ex-
cept one of the women, who awoke in
time, and made her efcape.
The heroine then took off the fcalps
of her vanquifhed enemies, and feizing
alio
[ 334 ]
jilfo thofe they were carrying away with
them as proofs of their fuccefs, flie re-
turned in triumph to the town from
whence fhe had fo lately been dragged, to
the great aftonifhment of her neighbours,
who could fcarcely credit their fenfes, or
the teftimonies fhe bore of her Amazonian
intrepidity.
During their march they oblige their
prifoners to ling their death-long, which
generally conlifts of thefe or limilar {en-
tences : "I am going to die, I am about
** to fuffer; but I will bear the levereffc
" tortures my enemies can inili6l with be-
*' coming fortitude. I will die like a
*' brave man, and I fliall then go to join
" the chiefs that have fufFered on the fame
" account." Thefe fongs are continued
with neceflary intervals, until they reach the
village or camp to which they are going.
When the warriors are arrived within
hearing, they fet up different cries, which
communicates to their friends a general
hiflorv of the fuccefs of the expedition.
The number of the death-cries they give,
declares how many of their own party are
loft; the number of war-hoops, the num-
ber of prifoners they have taken.
It
[ 335 ]
It is difficult to defcribe thefe cries, but
the beft idea I can convey of them is, that
the former confifts of the found Whoo,
Whoo, Whoop, which is continued in a
long (hrill tone, nearly till the breath is
exhaufbed, and then broken off with a
fudden elevation of the voice. The latter
of a loud cry, of much the fame kind,
which is modulated into notes by the
hand being placed before the mouth. Both
of them might be heard to a very conii-
derable diftance.
Whilfl: thefe are uttering, the perfons
to whom they are defigned to convey the
intelligence, continue motionlefs and all
attention. When this ceremony is per-
formed, the whole village iffue out to
learn the particulars of the relation they
have jufl heard in general terms, and ac-
cording as the news prove mournful or
the contrary, they anfvver by fo many ac-
clamations or cries of lamenLation.
Being by this time arrived at the village
or camp, the women and children arm
themfelves with fticks and bludgeons, and
form themfelves into two ranks, through
which the prifoners are obliged to pafs.
The treatment they undergo before they
reach
C 33^ ]
reach the extremity of the line, 1^ v£ry
levere. Sometimes they are fo heaten
over the head and face, as to have fcarcely
any remains of life ; and happy would it
be for them if by this iifage an end was
put to their wretched beings. But their
tormentors take care that none of the
blows they give prove mortal, as they wifli
to referve the miferable fufFerers for more
fevere inflidlions.
After having undergone this introduc-
tory difcipline, they are bound hand and
foot, whilil the chiefs hold a council in
which their fate is determined. Thofe
who are decreed to be put to death by the
ufual torments, are delivered to the chief
ot the warriors; fuch as are to be fpared,
are given into the hands of the chief of
the nation: fo that in a fliort time all the
prifoners may be affured of their fate, as
the lentence now pronounced is irrevo-
cable. The former they term being con*
iicned to the houfe of death, the latter to
the houfe of grace.
Such captives as are pretty far ad-
vanced in life, and have acquired great
honour by their warlike deeds, always
atone for the blood they have Ipilt by the
tortures
[ ivi ]
tortures of fire. Their fuccefs in war is
readily known by the blue marks upon
their breafts and arms, which ^re as le-
gible to the Indians as letters are to Eu-
ropeans.
The manrier in which thefe hierogly-
phicks are made, is by breaking the Ikin
with the teeth of fifh, or fliarpened flints,
dipped in a kind of ink made of the foot
of pitch pine. Like thofe of the ancient
Pids of Britain thefe are efteemed orna-
mental ; and at the fame time they ferve
as regifters of the heroic a6lions of the
warrior, who thus bears about him inde-
lible marks of his valour.
The prifoners deflined to death are
foon led to the place of execution, which
is generally in the centre of the camp
or village ; where, being ftript, and every
part of their bodies blackened, the ikin
of a crow or raven is fixed on their heads.
They are then bound to a {lake, with
faggots heaped around them, and obliged
for the laft time to fing their death-
fong.
The warriors, for fuch it is only who
commonly fuffer this punifhment, now
perform in a more prolix manner this fad
Y folem-
t 33^ ]
folemnity. They recount with an au-
dible voice all the brave adlions they have
performed, and pride themfelves in the
number of enemies they have killed. In
this rehear fa 1 they fpare not even their
tormentors, but flrive by every provok-
ing tale they can invent to irritate and
infult them. Sometimes this has the de-
fired effe^l, and the fufterers are difpatched
fooner than they otherwife would have
been.
There are many other methods which
the Indians make ufe of to put their pri-
foners to death, but thefe are only occa-
fional ; that of burning is moft generally
ufed .
Whilft I Vv'as at the chief town of the
Ottagaumies, an Illinois Indian was
brought in, who had been made prifoner
by one of their war parties. I had then
an opportunity of feeing the cuftomary
cruelties infli6led by thefe people on their
captives, through the minutefl part of
their procefs. After the previous fteps
neceffary to his condemnation, he was
carried, early in the morning, to a little
diftance from the town, where he was
bound to a tree.
This
[ 339 ]
This being done, all the boys, who
amounted to a great number, as the place
was populous, were permitted to amufe
themfelves with ihooting their arrows at
the unhappy vidim. As they were none
of them more than twelve years old, and
were placed at a confide rable diflance,
they had not ftrength to penetrate to the
vital parts, fo that the poor wretch flood
pierced with arrows, and fuffering the
confequent agonies, for more than two
days.
During this time he fung his warlike
exploits. He recapitulated every ftrata-
gem he had made ufe of to furprize his
enemies : he boafted of the quantity of
Icalps he pojGTefled, and enumerated the
prifoners he had taken. He then de-
fcribed the different barbarous methods
by which he had put the latter to death,
and feemed even then to receive incon-
ceivable pleafure from the recital of the
horrid tale.
. But he dwelt more particularly on
the cruelties he had pra^lifed on fuch
of the kindred of his prefent tormentors
as had fallen into his hands ; endeavour*
ing by thefe aggravated infults to induce
Y 2 them
[ 340 1
them to increafe his tortures, that he
might be able to give greater proofs of for-*
titude. Even in the lail: ftruggles of life,
when he was no longer able to vent
in w^ords the indignant provocation his
tongue would have uttered, a fmile of
mingled fcorn and triumph fat on his
countenance.
This method of tormenting their ene-
mies is eonlidered by the Indians as pro-
du(£live of more than one beneficial confe-
quence. It fatiates, in a greater degree,.
that diabolical luft of revenge, which is
the predominant paffion in the breafl: of
every individual of every tribe, and it
gives the growing warriors an early pro-
penfity to that cruelty and thirft for
blood, which is fo neceffary a qualification
for fuch as would be thoroughly fkilled in
their favage art of war.
I have been informed, that an Indian
who was under the hands of his tormen-
tors, had the audacity to tell them, that
they were ignorant old women, and did
not know how to put brave prifoners to
death. He acquainted them that he had
heretofore taken fome of their warriors,
qnd inflead of the trivial punifhments
they
[ 341 ]
they inflicted on him, he had devifed for
them the moft excruciating torments :
that having bound them to a flake, he
had fluck their bodies full of fharp fplin-
ters of turpentine wood, to which hq
then fet fire, and dancing around them en-
joyed the agonizing pangs of the flaming
victims.
This bravado, which carried with it a
degree of infult that even the accuftomed
ear of an Indian could not liflen to unmov-
ed, threw his tormentors off their guard,
and fhortened the duration of his torments ;
for one of the chiefs ran to him, and
ripping out his heart, ftopped with it the
mouth from which had ifiued fuch pro-^
yoking language.
Innumerable are the flories that may
be told of the courage and refolution of
the Indians, who happen to be made pri-
foners by their adverfaries. Many that
I have heard are fo aflonifhing, that they
feem to exceed the i^tmoft limits of credi-
bility; it is, however, certain that thef^
favages are pofleffed with many heroic
qualities, and bear every fpecies of mif-
fortune with a degree of fortitude which
y 3 has
[ 342 ]
has not been outdone by any of the an*
cient heroes of either Greece or Rome.
Notwithftanding thefe ads of feverlty
exercifed by the Indians towards thofe of
their own fpecies who fail into their hands,
fome tribes of them have been remarked
for their moderation to fuch female pri-
foners belonging to the Enghfli colonies
as have happened to be taken by them.
Women of great beauty have frequently
been carried off by them, and during a
march of three or four hundred miles
through their retired forefts, have lain by
their fides without receiving any infult,
and their chaftity has remained inviolate,
Infrances have happened where female
captives, who have been pregnant at the
time of their being taken, have found
the pangs of child-birth come upon them
in the midfl of fblitary woods, and fa-
vages their only companions ; yet from
thefe, favages as they were, have they
received every afTiftance their fituation
would admit of, and been treated with a
degree of delicacy and humanity they little
expetled.
This forbearanccj it muft be acknow^
Jedgedj
[ 343 ]
ledged, does not proceed altogether from
their difpofitions, hut is only inherent in
thofe who have held fome communication
with the French miffionaries. Without
intending that their natural enemies the
Englifh fhould enjoy the benefit of their la-
bours, thefe fathers have taken great pains
to inculcate on the minds of the Indians
the general principles of humanity, which
has difFufed itfelf through their manners,
and has proved of public utility.
Thofe prifoners that are configned to the
houfe of grace, and thefe are commonly the
young men, women, and children, await
the difpofal of the chiefs, who, after the
execution of fuch as are condemned to die,
hold a council for this purpofe-
A herald is fent round the village ar
camp, to give notice that fuch as have
loft any relation in the late expedition are
<iei]red to attend the diftrlbution which
is about to take place. Thofe women
who have loft their fons or huft>ands are
generally fatisfied in the firft place; af-
ter thefe, fuch as have been deprived of
friends of a more remote degree of consan-
guinity, or who choofe to adopt fome of
the youth.
Y 4 The
i
[ 344 ]
The divlfion being made, which is
done, as in other cafes, without the leaft
difpute, thofewho have received any fhare
lead them to their tents or huts; and hav-
ing unbound them, walh and drefs their
wounds if they happen to have received
any; they then cloath them, and give
them the mofl comfortable and refrelhing
food their flore will afford,
Whilft their new domefricks are feed-
ing, they endeavour to adminifter con-
folation to them ; they tell them that as
they are redeemed from death, they muf|:
now be cheerful and happy ; and if they
ferve them well, without murmuring or
repining, nothing iliall be wanting to
make them fuch atonement for the lol's of
their country and friends as circumftances
will allow of.
If any men are fpared, ^they are com-
monly given to the widows that have lofL
their hulbands by the hand of the enemy, ■
ihould there be any fuchj to whom, if
they happen to prove agreeable, they are
foon married. But ihould the dame be
ptherwiie engaged, the life of him who
falls to her lot is in great danger ; efpe=
ciajly if Ihe fancies that her late huiband
wants
[ 345 ]
^ants a flave in the country of fplrlts to
which he is gone.
When this is the cafe, a number of young
men take the devoted captive to fome dif-
tance, and difpatch him without any cere-
mony : after he has been fpared by the
council, they conlider him of too httle
confequence to be intitled to the torments
allotted to thofe who have been judged
worthy of them.
The women are ufually diftributed to
the men, from whom they do not fail of
meeting with a favourable reception. The
boys and girls are taken into the families
of fuch as have need of them, and are
conlidered as flaves ; and it is not uncom-
mon that they are fold in the fame capa-
city to the European traders who come
^mong them.
The Indians have no idea of moderat-
ing, the ravages of war, by fparing their
prifoners, and entering into a negotia-
tion with the band from whom they have
been taken, for an exchange. All that
are captivated by both parties, are either
put to death, adopted, or made flaves
of. And lo particular are every nation
ju this refped, that if any of their tribe,
even
r 346 3
even a warrior, fhould be taken prifoner,
and by charice be received into the houfe
of grace, either as an adopted perfon or
a (lave, and fhould afterwards make his
efcape, they will by no means receive
him, or acknowledge him as one of their
band.
The condition of fuch as are adopted
differs not in any one inftance from the
children of the nation to which they now
belong. They aflume all the rights of
thofe whofe places they fupply, and fre-
quently make no difficulty of going in the
war-parties apainil their own countrymen.
Should, however, any of thefe by chance
make their efcape, and be afterwards re-
taken, they are efteemed as unnatural chil-
dren and ungrateful perfons, who have
deferted and made war upon their parents
and benefactors, and are treated with un-
common feverity.
That part of the prifoners which are
coniidered as flaves, are generally diftri-
buted among the chiefs ; who frequently
make prefents of fome of thern to the Eu-
ropean governors of the out-pofts, or to
the fuperintendants or commiflaries of In-
dian affairs. I have been informed that it
was
[ 347 ]
was the Jefuits and French miffionaries
that firft occaiioned the introdu<5llon of
thefe unhappy captives into the fcttle-
ments, and who by lb doing tanght the
Indians that they were valuable.
Their viev»'s indeed were laudable, as
they imagined that by this method they
fhould not only prevent much barbarity
and bloodlhed, but find the opportunities
of fp reading their religion among them in-
creafed. To this purpofe tiiey encouraged
the treaders to purchafe fuch (laves as they
met with.
The good effects of this mode of pro-
ceeding was not however equal to the
expedlatlons of thefe pious fathers. In-
ftead of being the means of preventing
cruelty and bloodfhed, it ojily caufed the
diileniions between the Indian nations to
be carried on with a greater degree of vio-
lence, and with unremitted ardour. The
prize they fought for being no longer re-
venge or fame, but the acquirement of fpi-
rituous liquors, for which their captives
were to be exchanged, and of which almofl
every nation is immoderately fond, they
fought for their enemies with unwonted
alacrity.
[ 348 ]
aiaciity, and were conftantly on the watcli
to furprize and carry them oft.
It might ftill be faid that fewer of the
captives are tormented and put to death,
lince thefe expedlations of receiving fo va^
luable a confideration for them have been
excited than there ufually had been ; but
it does not appear that their accuftomed
cruelty to the warriors they take, is in the
leaft abated ; their natural defire of ven-
geance muft be gratified ; they now only
become more affiduous in fecuring a
greater number of young prifoners, whilft
thofe who are made captive in their de-
fence are tormented and put to death as
before.
The mlffionaries finding that contrary
to their wifhes their zeal had only ferved
to increafe the fale of the noxious juices,
applied to the Governor of Canada in the
year 1693, for a prohibition of this bane-
ful trade. An order was iiTued according-
ly, but it could not put a total flop to it;
the French Couriers de Bois were hardy
enough to carry it on clandeftlnely, not-
withllanding the penalty annexed to a
breach of the prohibition was a confiderable
fine and imprifonment.
Some
[ 349 ]
Some who were detected in the pro-*
fecution of it withdrew into the Indian
countries, where they intermarried with
the natives and underwent a voluntary
banifliment. Thefe, however, being art
abandoned and debauched fet, their con-
dud contributed very httle either towards
reforming the manners of their new re-
lations, or engaging them to entertain a
favourable opinion of the religion they
profeffed* Thus did thefe indefatigable
religious men fee their defigns in fome
meafure once moi'e fruftrated.
However, the emigration was produc-
tive of an effe6l which turned out to be'
beneficial to their nation. By the connec-
tion of thefe refugees with the Iroquois^
Miffifluages, Hurons, Miamies, Powto-
wottomies, Puants, Menomonies, Algon-
kins, &c. and the confiant reprefentations
thefe various nations received from them
of the power and grandeur of the French ^
to the aggrandizement of whofe monarchy
notwithftanding their banifhment, they
ftill retained their habitual inclination, the
Indians became infenlibly prejudiced in
favour of that people, and I am perfuaded
!• will
[ 3S^ 1
take every opportunity of fhewing their at*
tachment to them.
And this, even in defpite of the dif°
graceful eflimation they muft be held by
them, fmce they have been driven out of
Canada ; for the Indians confider every
conquered people as in a ftate of vaflalnge
to their conquerors. After one nation
has finally fubdued another, and a condi-
tional fubmiflion is agreed on, it is cufto-
mary for the chiefs of the conquered,
when they fit in council with their fub-
duers, to wear petticoats, as an acknow-
ledgment that they are in a itate of fub-
je^lion, and ought to be ranked among the
women. Their partiality to the French
has however taken too deep root for time
itfelf to eradicate it.
CHAP-
t 3St 1
CHAPTER X.
Of their Manner cf making Peace, ^c,
TH E wars that are carried on be-
tween the Indian nations are in
general hereditary, and continue from age
to age with a few interruptions. If a peace
becomes necelTary, the principal care of
both parties is to avoid the appearance of
making the firfl: advances.
When they treat with an enemy, re-
lative to a fufpeniion of hoftilities, the
chief who is commiffioned to undertake the
negociation, if it is not brought about by
the mediation of fome neighbouring band,
abates nothing of his natural haughtlnefs :
even when the affairs of his country are
in the worft fituation, he makes no con-
ceflions, but endeavours to perfuade his
adverfaries that it is their intereft to put
an end to the war.
Accidents fometimes contribute to bring
about a peace between nations that
otherwife could not be prevailed on to
liflen to terms of accommodation. An
5 iiiilanCw*
[ 3S^ ]
inflance of this, which I heard of in al^
moft every nation I pafled through, I
fhall relate.
About eighty years ago, the Iroquois
and Chipeways, two powerful nations,
were at war with the Ottagaumies and
Saukies, who were much inferior to their
adverfaries both in numbers and ftrength.
One winter near a thoufand of the for-
mer made an excurfion from Lake Onta*
tario, by way of Toronto, towards the ter-
ritories of their enemies. They coafled
Lake Huron on its eafl and northern
borders, till they arriv^ed at the ifland
of St. Jofeph, which is fituated in the
Straights of St. Marie. There they crofled
thefe Straights upon the ice about fif-
teen miles below the falls, and continued
their route flill weftward. As the ground
was covered with fnow, to prevent a
difcovery of their numbers, they marched
in a lingle filcj treading in each others
footfteps.
Four Chlpeway Indians, pafling thafe
way, obferved this army, and readily
gueiled from the dire£lion of their march,
and the precautions they took, both the
country
[ 353 ]
country to which they were haftening, and
their defigns.
Notwithflandhig the nation to which
they belonged was at war with the Otta-
gaumies, and in alliaiice with their in-
vaders, yet from a principle which can-
not be accounted for, they took an inftant
refolution to apprize the former of their
danger. To this purpofe they haftened'
away with their ufual celerity, and, tak-
ing a circuit to avoid dilcoyery, arrived
at the hunting grounds of the Ottagau-*
mies, before fo large a body, moving in
fo cautious a manner, could do. There
they found a party of about four hun-
dred warriors, fome of which were Saukies^
whom they inlbrmed of the approach of
their enemies.
The chiefs immediately colle£led their'
whole force, and held a council on the
fteps that were to be taken for their de-
fence. As they were encumbered with
their families, it was impoliibe that they
could retreat in time ; they therefore de-
termined to chufe the moil advantageous
fpot, and to give the Iroquois the befl re-*
ception in their power,
Z Not
[ 354 ]
Not far from the place where they
then happened to be, ftood two fmall
lakes, between which ran a narrow neck
of land about a mile in length, and only
from twenty to forty yards in breadth.
Concluding that the Iroquois intended
to pafs though this defile, the united
bands divided their little party into two
bodies of two hundred each. One of
thefe took pofl at the extremity of the
pafs that lay neareft to their hunting-
grounds, which they immediately fortified
with a breaft-work formed of palifades ;
whilft the other body took a compafs round
one of the lakes, with a defign to hem
their enemies in when they had entered
the defile.
Their flratagem fucceeded ; for no
fooner had the whole of the Iroquois en-
tered the pafs, than, being provided with
wood for the purpofe, they formed a fimi-
lar breaftTWork on the other extremity, and
thus enclofed their enemies.
The Iroquois foon perceived their fitu-
ation, and immediately held a council on
the meafures that were neceflary to be
purfued to extricate themfelves. Unlucki-
ly for them a thaw had jufl taken place,
I which
[ 3S5 ]
which had fo far diflblvcd the ice as to
render it impaflible, and yet there frill re-
mained fufficient to prevent them from
either pailing over the lakes on rafts, or
from Iwimmiiig acrofs. In this dilemma
it was agreed that they fhould endeavour
to force one of the breaft- works ; but they
foon found them too well defended to ef-
fect their purpofe.
Notvvithflanding this difappointment,
with the ufual compofure and unapprehen-
fivenefs of Indians, they amufed them-
felves three or four days in fifliing. By
this time the ice being quite diffolved, they
made themielves rafts, which they were
enabled to do by fome trees that fortunate-
ly grew on the fpot, and attempted to
crofs one of the lakes.
They accordingly fet off before day-
break ; but the Ottagaumies, who had
been watchful of their motions, perceiving
their defign, detached one hundred and
fifty men from each of their parties, to
oppofe their landing. Thefe three hun-
dred marched fo expeditiouily to the other
fide of the lake, that they reached it be-
fore their opponents had gained the ihore,
Z 2 they
[ 356 ]
tliey being retarded by their poles flicking
in the mud.
As foon as the confederates arrived,
they poured in a very heavy fire, both
from their bows and mufquetry, on the
Iroquois, which greatly difconcerted them ;
till the latter finding their fituation def-
perate, leaped into the water,' and fought
their way through their enemies. This
however they could not do without lofing
more than half their men.
After the Iroquois had landed, they
made good their retreat, but were obliged
to leave their enemies mafters of the field,
and iri polldlion of all the furs they had
taken during their winter's hunt. Thus
dearly did they pay for an unprovoked ex-
curfion to fuch diftance from the route
they ought to have purfued, and to which
they were only impelled by a fudden de-
fire of curting off fome of their ancieiit
enemie .
But had they known their flrength
they might have deflroyed every man of
the party that oppofed them ; which
even at the firft onfet was only inconfi-
derable, and, when diminilhed by the
action,
[ 351 ]
aiflion, totally unable to make 2.ny ftand
againfl: them.
The victorious bands rewarded the Chi-
peways, who had been the means of their
fuccefs, with a fliare of the fpoils. They
prefled them to take any quantity they
chofe of the richeil; of the furs, and fent
them under an efcort of fifty men, to
their own country. The difinterefted
Chipeways, as the Indians in general are
feldom a6luated by mercenary motives, for
a confiderable time refufed thele prefents,
but were at length perfuaded to accept of
them.
The brave and well-concerted refinance
here made by the Ottagaumies and Sau-,
kies, aided by the mediation of the Chi-
peways, who laying afide on this occa-
lion the animofity they had fo long borne
thoie people approved of the generous
condu6l of their four chiefs, were toge-
ther the means of effedling a reconcilia-
tion between thefe nations ; and in pro-
cefs of time united them all in the bands
of amity.
And I believe that all the Indians in-
habiting that extenfive country, which
lies between Quebec, the banks of the
Z 3 Miffiflippi
[ 358 ]
Miffiffippl north of the Ouifconfin, and
the fettlements belonging to the Hudfon's
Bay Company, are at prefent in a ftate
of profound peace. Wlien their reftlefs,
difpofitions will not fufFer them to re-
main inactive, thefe northern Indians fel-
dom commit hoftiiities on each other, but
make excurfions to the fouthward, againft
the Cherokees, Choftahs, Chickafaws or
Illinois.
Sometimes the Indians grow tired of a
war which they have carried on againft
fome neighbouring nation for many years
"without much fuccefs, and in this cafe they
feek for mediators to begin a negotiation.
Thefe being obtained, the treaty is thus
conducled.
A number of their own chiefs, joined
by thofe who have accepted the friendly
office, fet out together for the country
of their enemies ; fuch as are chofen for
this purpofe, are chiefs of the moft ex-
tenfive abilities and of the greateft inte-
grity. They bear before them the Pipe
of Peace, which I need not inform my
readers is of the fame nature as a Flag
of Truce among the Europeans, and is
treated with the greatell: refpeO: and vene-
rationj
[ 3S9 ]
ration, even by the moft barbarous na-
tions. I never heard of an inftance where-
in the bearers of this facred badge of
friendfhip were ever treated dirrefpe6l-
fiilly, or its rights violated. The In-
dians believe that the Great Spirit never
fuffers an infraftion of this kind to go im-
punifhed.
The Pipe of Peace, which is termed
by the French the Calumet, for what
reafon I could never learn, is about four
feet long. The bowl of it is made of
red marble, and the ftem of it of a light
wood, curioufly painted with, hierogly-
phicks in various colours, and adorned
with the feathers of the mod bsautiful
birds. I have endeavoured to give as ex-
a£l a reprefentation of it as poffible in Plate
N° IV; but it is not in my power to
convey an idea of the various tints and
plealing ornaments of this much efteemed
Indian implement.
Every nation has a different method of
decorating thele pipes, and they can tell at
£rft fight to what band it belongs. It is
ufed as an introduition to all treaties, and
great ceremony attends the ufe of it on
thefe occalions.
Z 4 ■ The
[ 36o ]
The affiftant or aid-du-camp of the
great warrior, when the chiefs are aiTem-
bled and feated, fills it with tobacco mixed
with the herbs before mentioned, taking
care at the fame time that no part of it
touches the ground. When it is filled,
he tak' s a coal that is thoroughly kindled
from a Hre which is generally kept burn-
ing;' in the midft of the affembly, and
places it on the tobacco.
As foon as it is lufficiently lighted, he
throws off the coal. He then turiis the
flem of it towards the heavens, after this
towards the earth, and now holding it
horizontally moves himfelf round till he
hsAs completed a circle : by the firft action
he is fuppoled to prefent it to the Great
Spirit, whofe aid is thereby fupplicated ;
by the fecond, to avert any malicious in-
terpofitipn of the evil fpirits ; and by the
third to gain the protedion of the fpi-
rits inhabiting the air, the earth, and the
waters. J-L^-ving thus fecured the favour
pf thole invifible agents, in whofe power
they luppofe it is either to forward or ob-
firucl the ilfue of their preient delibera-
tions, he prefents it to the hereditary
chief, who having taken two or three
whiffs.
[ 3«' 1
whlfTs, blows the fmoak from his mouth
firil: towards heaven, and then around him
upon the ground.
It is afterwards put in the fame man-
lier into the mouths of the ambaflhdors
or Grangers, who obferve the fame cere-
mony; then to the chief of the warriors,
and to all the other chiefs in turn accord-
ing to their gradation. During this time
the perfon who executes this honourable
office holds the pipe ilightiy in his hand,
as if he feared to prefs the facred inftrU'
ment ; nor does any one prefume to touch
it but with his lips.
When the chiefs who are intruded with
the commiffion for making peace, ap-
proach the town or camp to which they
iare going, they begin to fing and dance
the fongs and dances appropriated to this
occalion. By this time the adverfe party
ure apprized of their arrival, and divefling
themlelves of their wonted enmity at the
light of the Pipe of Peace, invite them to
the habitation of the Great Chief, and
furniih them with every conveniency dur-
ing the negociation.
A council is then held ; and when the
fpeeches and debates are ended, if no ob-
fi:ru(Slions
C 36^ ]
il:m£i:lons arife to put a ftop to the treaty,
the painted hatchet is buried in the
ground as a memorial that all anirno-
iities between the contending nations
have ceafed, and a peace taken place.
Among the ruder bands, fuch as have no
communication with the Europeans, a war-
club painted red is buried inilead of the
hatchet.
A belt of wampum is alfo given on this
Dccafion, Vv'hich ierves as a ratification of
the peace, and records to the lateft pofle-
rity, by the hieroglyphicks into which the
beads are formed, every ftipulated article
in the treaty.
Thefe belts are made of fhells found on
the coafls of New England and Virginia,
which are fawed out into beads of an ob-
long form, about a quarter of an inch long,
and round like other beads. Being ftrung
on leather firings, artci feveral of them
fewed neatly together with fine fmewy
threads, they then compofe what is term-
ed a belt of Wampum.
The fhells are generally of tv/o co-
lours, fome white and others violet ; but
the latter are more highly efleemed than
the former. They are held in as much
eftimatiou
[ 3^3 ]
eftimatioii by the Indians, as gold, fil-
ver, or precious flones are by the Eu-
ropeans.
The belts are compofed of ten, twelve,
or a greater number of ftrings, accord-
ing to the importance of the affair in
agitation, or the dignity of the perfon to
whom it is prefented. On more trifling
Gccafions, firings of thefe beads are pre-
fented by the chiefs to each other, and
frequently worn by them about their necks,
as a valuable ornapient.
C H A P T E R XI.
Of their Games.
AS I have before obferved, the In-
dians are ureatly addi6led to gam-
ing, and will even flake, and lofe with
compofure, all the valuables they are pof-
fefled of. They amufe themlelves at fe~
veral forts of games, but the principal and
mofl efleemed among them is that of the
ball, which is not unlike the European
game of tennis.
The
[ 364 ]
ThiC balls they ufe are rather larger
than thofe made ule of at tennis, and are
formed of a piece of deer-iiln ; which
being moiftened to render it fupple, is
Huffed hard with the hair of the fame
creature, and fewed with its finews. The
ball-fticks are about three feet long, at
the end of which there is fixed a kind of
racket, relembling the palm of the hand,
and falhioned of thongs cut from a deer-
Ikin. In thefe they catch tlie ball, and
throw it to a great diilance, if they are not
prevented by fome of the oppofite party,
who fly to intercept it.
This game is generally played by large
companies, that fometimes confill: of more
than three hundred ; and it is not uncom-
mon for different bands to play againfl
each other.
They begin by fixing two poles in the
ground at about fix hundred yards apart,
and one of thefe goals belong to each
party of the combatants. The ball is
thrown up high in the centre of the
ground, and in a dired line between the
goals ; towards which each party endea-
vours to ftrike it, and which ever lide firft
caufes
[ 365 1
caiiies It to reach their own goal, reckons
towards the game.
They are lo exceeding dextrous in this
manly exercife, that the hall is ufually
kept flying in different directions by the
force of the rackets, without touching
the ground during the whole contention ;
for they are not allowed to catcli it with
their hands. They run with amazing
velocity in purfuit of each other, and
when one is on the point of hurling it to
a great diftance, an antagonift overtakes
him, and by a fudden ftroke da(hes down
the ball.
They play with fo much vehemence
that they frequently wound each other,
and fometimes a bone is broken ; but not-
withftanding thefe accidents there never ap-»
pears to be any fpite or wanton exertions
of ftrength to efFe«5l them, nor do any dif-
putes ever happen between the parties.
There is another game alto in ulc
among them worthy of remark, and this
is the game of the Bowl or Platter.
This game is played between two per-
fons only. Each perfon has fix or eiglit
little bones not unlike a peach-ftone either
in fize or fhape, except that they are
qua-
[ 366 ]
quadrangular ; two of the fides of which
are coloured black, and the others white.
Thefe they throw up into the air, from
whence they fall into a bowl or platter
placed underneath, and made to fpiii
round.
According as thefe bones prefent the
white or black fide upwards they reckon
the game : he that happens to have the
greateft number turn up of a limilar co-
lour, counts five points ; and forty is the
game.
The winning party keeps his place, and
the lofer yields his to another who is ap-
pointed by one of the umpires ; for a
whole village is fometimes concerned in
the party, and at times one band plays
againfl another.
During this play the Indians appear
to be greatly agitated, and at every deci-
live throw fet up a hideous fliout. They
make a thoufand contortions, addrefiing
themfelves at the fame time to the bones,
and loading with imprecations the evil
fpirits that aflifl their fuccefsful anta-
goniflis. At this game fome Will lofe
their apparel, all the moveables of their
cabins, and fometimes even their liberty,
not-
[ 367 ]
hotwithftanding there are no people in
the univerle more jealous of the latter
thaii the Indians are.
CHAPTER XII.
Of their Marriage Ceremonies, ^c.
TH E Indians allow of polygamy,
and perfons of every rank indulge
themfelves in this point. The chiefs in
particular have a feraglio, v/hich conhfts of
an uncertain number, ufually from fix to
twelve or fourteen. The lower ranks are
permitted to take as maiiy as there is a
probability of their being able, with the
children they may bear, to maintain. It
is not uncommon for an Indian to marry
two fifters ; fometimes, if there happen
to be more, the whole number; and not-
withftanding this (as it appears to civilized
nations) unnatural union, they all live in
the greatefl: harmony.
The younger wives are fubmiiiivc to
the elder ; and thole who have no chil-
dren, do fuch menial offices for thole
who are fertile, as caufes their lituation
to
[ 368 i
lo differ but little from a ftate of ferviti]de=
However they perform every injun^tioii
with the greatelt cheerfulnefs, in hopes
of gaining thereby the affeftion of their
huiband, that they in their turns may
have the happinefs of becoming mothers,
and be intitled to the refpe6l attendant on
that ftate.
It is not uncommon for an Indian,
although he takes to himfelf fo many
wives, to live in a ftate of continence
with many of them for feveral years-
Such as are not fo fortunate as to gain the
favour of their hufband by their fubmif-
five and prudent behaviour, and by that
means to fhare in his embraces, continue
in their virgin ftate during the whole of
their lives, except they happen to be
prefented by him to fome flranger chief,
whofe abode among them will not admit
of his entering into a more lading con-
nexion. In tiiis cafe they fubmit to the
injundion of their huiband without mur-
muring, and are not difpleafed at the tem-
porary union. But if at any time it is
known that they take this liberty with-
out firll receiving his conf^nt, they are
5 punifhed
t 369 1
punifhed in the fame manner as If they
had been guilty of adultery.
This cuftom is more prevalent arriong
the nations which lie in the interior parts,
than among thofe that are nearer the fet-
tlements, as the manners of the latter are
rendered more conformable in fome points
to thofe of the Europeans, by the inter-
courfe they hold with them.
The Indian nations differ but little
from each other in their marriage ceremo-
nies, and lefs in the manner of their di-
vorces. The tribes that inhabit the bor-
ders of Canada, make ufe of the follow-
ing cuftom.
When a young Indian has fixed his in-
clinations on one of the other fex, he
endeavours to gain her confent, and if he
fucceeds, it is never known that her pa-
rents ever ob{l:ru6t their union. When
every preliminary is agreed on, and the
day appointed, the friends and acquaint-
ance of both parties aflemble at the houfe
or tent of the oldeft relation of the bride-
groom, where a feaft is prepared on the
occafion.
The company who meet to aflifl at
the feflival are fometimes very numerous;
A a they
[ 31^ 1
they dance, they fmg, and enter into everv
other diverfion ufually made life of on anv
of their public rejoicings. When thefe
are finifhed, all thofe who attended merely
out of ceremony depart, and the bride-
groom and bride are left alone with three'
or four of the nearefl: and oldeft relations
of either fide ; thofe of the bridegroom
being men, thofe of the bride, women.
Prefently the bride, attended by thefe
few friends, having withdrawn herfelf for
the purpofe, appears at one of the doors
of the houfe, and is led to the bride-
groom, who {lands ready to receive her.
Having now taken their ftation on a mat
placed in the centre of the room, they
lay hold of the extremities of a wand
about four feet long, by which they con-
tinue feparated, whilft the old men pro-
nounce fome fliort harangues fuitable to
the occaiion.
The married couple after this make a
public declaration of the love and regard
they entertain for each other, and fi:ill
holding the rod between them, dance and
fing. When they have finifhed this part
of the ceremony, they break the rod into
as many pieces as there are witnefles pre-
fent,
[ 371 ]
fent, who each take a piece, and preferve
it with great care.
The bride is then re-condu6led out of
the door at which fhe entered, where
her young companions wait to attend her
to her father's houfe ; there the bride-
groom is obliged to feck her, and the
marriage is confummated. Very often
the wife remains at her father's houfe till
fhe has a child, when fhe packs up her
apparel, which is all the fortune flie is
generally pofleffed of, and accompanies her
hufband to his habitation.
When from any diflike a feparation
takes place, for they are feldom known
to quarrel, they generally give their
friends a few days notice of their
intentions, and fometimes offer reafons to
juftify their conduct. The witnefies who
were prefent at the marriage, meet on
the day requefted at the houfe of the cou-
ple that are about to feparate, and bring-
ing with them the pieces of rod which
they had received at their nuptials, throw
them into the tire in the prefence of ail
the parties.
This is the whole of the ceremony
required, and the feparation is carried on
without any murmurlngs or ill-will be-
A a 2 tvyeea
[ ^r- ]
tweeti the couple or their relations; and
after a few months they are at liberty to
marry again.
When a marriage is thus diflblved, the
children which have been produced from
it, are equally divided between them ; and
as children are efteemed a treafure by the
Indians, if the number happens to be odd,
the woman is allowed to take the better
half.
Though this cuftom feems to encou-.
ran'e ficklenefs and frequent feparations,
yet there are many of the Indians who
liave but one wife, and enjoy with her a
ilate of connubial happinefs not to be ex-
ceeded in more refined focieties. There
are alfo not a few inftances of women pre-
ferving an inviolable attachment to their
huihands, except in the cafes before-men-
tioned, which are not confidered as either
a violation of their chaftity or fidelity.
Although I have faid that the Indian
nations differ very little from each other
in their marria2;e ceremonies, there are
fome exceptions. The Naudoweffies have
a fingular method of celebrating their
nrirnages, wliich feems to bear no refem-
blaiice to thofe made ufe of by any other
nation
[ 313 ]
nation I paffed through. When one of
their young men has fixed on a young
woman he approves of, he difcovers his
paffion to her parents, who give him an
hivitation to come and Uve with them in
their tent.
He accordingly accepts the offc;r, and
by fo doing engages to relide in it for a
whole year, in the chara6ler of a menial
fervant. During this time he hunts, and
brings all the game he kills to the family ;
by which means the father has an oppor-
tunity of feeing whether he is able to
provnde for the fupport of his daughter
and the children that might be the confe-
quence of their union. This however is.
only done whilfl: they are young men,
and for their firil: wife, and not repeated
like Jacob's fervitudes.
When this period is expired, the mar-
riage is folemnized after the cuftom of
the country, in the following manner :
Three or four of the oldeft male relations
of the bridegroom, and as many of the
bride's, accompany the young couple from
their refpedlive tents to an open part in
the centre of the camp.
A a 3 The
[ 374 1
The chiefs and warriors being here af-
fcmbled to receive them, a party of the
latter are drawn up in two ranks on each
fide of the bride and bridegroom immedi-
ately on their arrival. The principal
chief then acquaints the whole afl'embly
with the defign of their meeting, and tells
them that tlie couple before them, men-
tioning at the lame time their names,
are come to avow publicly their intentions
of living together as man and wife. He
then aiks the tvv^o young people alter-
nately, whether they delire that the
union might take place. Having declared
with an audible voice that they do fo, the
warriors fix their arrows, and difcharge
them over the heads of the married pair ;
this done, the chief pronounces them
man and wife.
The bridegroom then turns round,
and bending his body, takes his wife on
his back, in which manner he carries her
amidft the acclamations of the fpe(5lators
to his tent. This ceremony is facceeded
by the moft plentiful feafh the new mar-
ried man can afford, and fongs and
dances, according to the ufual cuftom,
conclude the feflival.
Divorces
[ 31S ]
Divorces happen ^o feldom among the
Naiidoweilies, that I had not an opportu-
nity of learning how they are accom-
plished.
Adultery is efteemed by them a hein-
ous crime, and punifhed with the geatefl:
rigour. The huiband in thefe caies bites
off the wife's nofc, and a feparation in-
ftantly enfues. I law an inftance wherein
this mode of punifliment was inflidled,
whilil I remained among them. The
children, when this happens, are diflri-
buted according to the ufual cuftom ob-
ferved by other nations, that is, they are
equally divided.
Among the Indian as well as Euro-
pean nations, there are many that devote
themfelves to pleafure, and notwith land-
ing the accounts given by fome modern
writers of the frigidity of an Indian con-
ilitution, become the zealous votaries of
Venus. The young warriors that are
thus difpofed, feldom want opportunities
for gratifying their paffion ; and as the
mode ufually followed on thefe occafions
is rather lingular, I fhali defcribe it.
When one of thefe young debauchees
imagines from the behaviour of the per-
A a 4 fon
[ 31^ 1
fon he has chofen for his miilrefs, that
he ihall not meet with any great ob-
ilruftion to his fuit from her, he purfues
f;he following plan.
It has been already obferved, that the
Indians acknowledge no fuperiority, nor
have they any ideas of fubordination, ex-
cept in the neceflary regulations of their
war or hunting parties ; they confequently
live nearly in a flate of equality purfuant
to the firft principles of nature. The
lover therefore is not apprehenfive of any
check or controul in the accomplifhment
of his purpofes if he can find a conve-
liient opportunity for completing them.
As the Indians are alfo under no ap-
prehenlion of robbers, or fecret enemies,
they leave the doors of their tents or huts
imfaftened during the night, as well as in
the day. Two or three hours after fun-
fet, the Haves or old people cover over the
fire, that is generally burning in the midfl:
of their apartment, with aflies, and retire
to their repofe,
Whilft darknefs thus prevails, and all
is quiet, one of thefe fons of pleafure,
wrapped up clofely in his blanket to
.prevent his being known, will fornetimes
enter
[ 377 1
enter the apartment of his intended miftrefs.
Having firft hghted at the fmothered fire
a fmall IpHnter of wood, which anfwers
the purpofe of a match, he approaches ths
place where {lie repofes, and gently pull-
ing away the covering from her head,
jbgs her till fhe awakes. If (lie then
rifes up, and blows out the light, he
needs no further confirmation that his
company is not difagreeable ; but if, after
he has difcovered himfelf, fhe hides her
head, and takes no notice of him, he
might reft aiibred that any further folici-
tations will prove vain, and that it is ne-
ceffary immediately for him to retire.
During his ftay he conceals the light
as much as poffible in the hollow of his
hands, and as the tents or room.s of the
Indians are ufually large and capacious,
he efcapes without dete6tion. It is faid
that the young women who admit their
lovers on thefe occafions, take great care,
by an immediate application to herbs,
with the potent efficacy of which they
are well acquainted, to prevent the effe6ls
of thefe illicit amours from becoming vi-
fible ; for fhould the natural confequences
5 enfue.
[ 378 ]
enfue, they muH for ever remain unmar-
ried.
The children of the Indians are always
diflinguifhed by the name of the mother;
and if a woman marries feveral hnfbands,
and has ifllie by each of them, they are
all called after her. The reafon they
give for this is, that as their offspring are
indebted to the father for their fouls, the
invifible part of their eflence, and to the
mother for their corporeal and apparent
part, it is more rational that they Hiould
be diftinguifhed by the name of the latter,
from whom they indubitably derive their
being, than by that of the father, to
which a doubt might fometimes arife whe-
ther they are juftly intitled.
Thei^e are lome ceremonies made ufe of
by the Indians at the impofition of the
name, and it is confidered by them as a
matter of great importance ; but what
thefe are 1 could never learn, through the
fecrefy obferved on the occaiion. I only
know that it is ufually given when
the children have paffed the jftate of in-
fancy.
Nothing can exceed the tendernefs
fhown by them to their offspring ; and a
5 perfoii
[ ?>19 ]
perfon cannot recommend hlmfelf to their
favour by any method more certain, than
by paying fome attention to the younger
branches of their families. I can impute,
in fome meafure, to the prefents I made
to the children of the chiefs of the Nau-
dowefiies, the hofpitable reception I met
with when among them.
There is fome difficulty attends an ex-
planation of the manner in which the
Indians diftinguifh themfelves from each
other. Befides the name of the animal
by which every nation and tribe is deno-
minated, there are others that are perfo-
nal, and which the children receive from
their mother.
The chiefs are alfo diflinguifhed by a
name that has either fome reference to
their abilities, or to the hieroglyphick of
their flimilies ; and thefe are acquired
after they arrive at the age of manhood.
Such as have lignalized themfelves either
in their war or hunting parties, or are
poflefied of fome eminent qualihcation,
receive a name that ferves to perpetuate
the fame of thefe a£lions, or to make
their abilities confpicuous.
Thus
[ 38° ]
Thus the great warrior of the Naii-
doweffies was named OttahtongoomHfhcah,
that is, the Great Father of Snakes ;
ottah being in Enghlli father, tongoom
great, and Hfhcah a fnake. Another
chief was called Honahpawjatin, which
means a fwift runner over the mountains.
And when they adopted me a chief among
them, they named me Shebaygo, which
fignities a writer, or a perfon that is cu-
rious in making hieroglyphicks, as they
faw me often writing.
CHAPTER XIIL
Of their Religion.
T is very difficult to attain a perfect
knowledge of the religious principles
of the Indians. Their ceremonies and
doftrines have been fo often ridiculed by
the Europeans, that they endeavour to
conceal them ; and if, after the greateft
intimacy, you defire any of them to ex-
plain to you their fyftem of religion, to
prevent your ridicule they intermix with
it many of the tenets they have received
from
C 38« ]
from the French miffionarles, fo that it is
at lail: rendered an unlnteUigible jargon,
and not to be depended upon.
Such as I could difcover among the
Naudoweflies, for they alio were very re-
ferved in this point, I fliall give my rea-
ders, without paying any attention to the
accounts of others. As the religion of
that people from their fituation appears to
be totally unadulterated with the fuperfti-
tions of the church of Rome, we fhall
be able to gain from their religious cuf-
toms a more perfect idea of the original
tenets and ceremonies of the Indians in
general, than from thofe of any nations
that approach nearer to the fettlements.
It is certain they acknowledge one
Supreme Being or Giver of Life, who
preiides over all things. The Chipeways
call this being Manitou or Kitchi-Ma-
nitou ; the Naudowellies, Wakon or
Tongo-Wakon, that is, the Great Spi-
rit ; and they look up to him as the
fource of good, from whom no evil can
proceed. They alfo believe in a bad fpi-
rit, to whom they afcribe great power,
and fuppofe that through his means all the
evils which befall mankind are iniiided.
To
[ 38^ ]
To him therefore do they pray in their
diilirefle-, begging that he would either
avert their troubles, or moderate them
when they are no longer avoidable.
They fay that the Great Spirit, who is
infinitely good, neither wiflies or is able
to do any mifchief to mankind ; but on
the contrary, that he fhowers down on
them all the blellings they deferve ;
whereas the evil fpirit is continually em-
ployed in contriving how he may punifli
the human race ; and to do which he is
not only poiTefled of the will, but of the
power.
They hold alfo that there are good fpirlts
of a lefler degree, who have their particular
departments, in which they are conftantly
contributing to the happinefs of mortals.
Thefe they fuppofe to prefide over all the
extraordinary productions of nature, fuch
as thofe lakes, rivers, or mountains that
are of an uncommon magnitude; and
likewife the beads, birds, fiihes, and even
vegetables or ftoiies that exceed the refl: of
their fpecies in fize or lingularity. To
all of thefe they pay feme kind of adora-
tion. Thus when they arrive on the
borders of Lake Superior, on the banks
or
C 383 ]
of the Miffiffippi, or any other great hody
of water, they prefent to the Spirit who
refides there fome kind of offering, as the
prince of the Winnebagoes did when he
attended me to the Falls of St. An-
thony.
But at the fame time I fancy that the
ideas they annex to the word fpirit, are
very different from the conceptions more
enlightened nations entertain of it. They
appear to fafhion to themfelves corporeal
reprefentations of their gods, and believe
them to be of a human form, though of
a nature more excellent than man.
Of the fame kind are their fentiments
relative to a futurity. They doubt not
but they ihall exift in fome future flate ;
they however fancy that their employ-
ments there will be fimilar to thofe they
are engaged in here, without the labour
and difficulty annexed to them in this pe-
riod of their exigence.
They confequently expedl to be tranf-
lated to a delightful country, where they
Ihall always have a clear unclouded fky,
and enjoy a perpetual fpring ; where the
fprefls will abound with game, and the
lakes with fiih, which might be taken
without
[ 384 ]
Witliout reqiiiiing a painful exertion 0/
Ikill, or a laborious purfult ; in fhort,
that they fhall live for ever in regions of
plenty, and enjoy every gratification they
delight in here, in a greater degreei
I'o intelleftual pleafures they are flran-
gers ; nor are thefe included in their
fcheme of happinefs. But they expert
that even thefe animal pleafures will be;
proportioned and diib'ibuted according to
their merit ; the ikilful hunter, the bold
and fuccefsful warrior, will be entitled to
a greater fnare than thole who through
indolence or want of ikill cannot boafk of
any fuperiority over the common herd.
The priefts of the Indians are at the
fame time their phyficians, and their con-
jurors ; whilft they heal their wounds or
cure their difeaics, they interpret their
dreams, give them prote6live charms, and
fatisfy that delire which is fo prevalent
among them of fearching into futurity.
How well they execute the latter part
of their profeffional engagements, and the
methods they make ufe of on fome of
thefe occafions, I have already Ihewn in
the exertions of the prieft of the Killif*
tiuof s^ who was fortunate enough to fuc*
cced
[ 38s 1
ceed in his extraordinary attempt near Lake
Superior. They frequently are fuccefsful
likewife in admlniftering the falubrious
herbs they have acquired a knowledge of;
but that the ceremonies they make ufe of
during the adminlftration of them contri-
butes to their fuccefs, I fhall not take
upon me to aflert.
When any of the people are ill, the
perfon who is invefted with this triple
character of do(£lor, prieft, and magician,
fits by the patient day and night, rattling
in his ears a goad-ihell filled with dry
beans, called a Chichlcoue, and making a
difagreeable nolfe that cannot be well de-
fcribed.
This uncouth harmony one v/ould ima-
gine fhould difturb the iick perfon, and
prevent the good eife(5ls of the doctor's
prefcription ; but on the contrary they
believe that the method made ufe of con-
tributes to his recovery, by diverting from
his malignant purpofes the evil fpirit
who has infii6ted the diforder ; or at leail:
that it will take off his attention, fo that
he fhall not increafe the malady. This
they are credulous enough to imagine he is
conilantly on the watch to do^ and would
B b carrv
r 386 1
carry his inveteracy to a fatal length if they
did not thus charm him.
I could not difcovei' that they make
"ufe of any other religious ceremonies than
thofe I have defcribed ; indeed, on the
appearance of the new moon they dance
and fing; but it is not evident that they
pay that planet any adoration ; they only
feem to rejoice at the return of a lumi-
nary that makes the night cheerful, and
which ferves to light them on their way
when they travel during the abfence of
the fivn.
Notwithftanding Mr. Adair has afferted
that the nations among whom he refided,
oblerve with very little variation all the
rites appointed by the Mofaic Law, I own
I could never diicover among thofe tribes
that lie but a few degrees to the north-
wefl, the leaft traces of the Jewifli reli-
gion, except it be admitted that one parti-
cular female cuflom and their divifion into
tribes, carry with them proofs fufficient to
eftablilh this affertion.
The Jefuits and French miffionaries
have alfo pretended that the Indians had,
when they hrft travelled into America,
foir.e notions, though thefe were dark and
con-
[ 387 ]
confufed, of the chriftian inftitutlon ; that
they have been greatly agitated at the light
of a crofs, and given proofs, by the im-
preffions made on them, that they were not
entirely unacquainted vvitii the facred myf^
teries of Chriifianlty. I need not fay that
thefe are too glaring abfurdities to be cre-
dited, and could only receive their exiftsnce
from the zeal of thofe fathers, who en-
deavoured at once to give the public a
better opinion of the fuccefs of their mlf-
iions, and to add fupport to the caufe they
were engaged in.
The Indians appear to be in their re-
ligious principles rude and uninftruded.
The dodlrines they hold are few and iim-
ple, and fuch as have been generally ini-
preffed on the human mind, by fome
means or other, in the moft ignorant ages.
They however have not deviated, as many
other uncivilized nations, and too many
civilized ones have done, into idolatrous
modes of worfhip ; they venerate indeed
and make offerings to the wonderful parts
of the creation, as I have before obferved ;
but whether thefe rites are performed on ac-
count of the impreffion fuch extraordinary
appearances make on them, or vv^hether
B b z they
[ 383 ]
they confider them as the peculiar charge,
or the ufual places of relidence of the in-
vilible fpirlts they acknowledge, I cannot
pofitlvely determine.
The human mind in its uncultivated
flate is apt to afcribe the extraordinary oc-
currences of nature, fuch as earthquakes,
thunder, or hurricanes, to the interpoli-
tion of unfeen beings ; the troubles and
diiafters alfo that are annexed to a iavage
life, the apprehenfions attendant on a pre-
carious fubliftence, and thofe numberlefs
inconveniencies which man in his improv-
ed ftate has found means to remedy, are
fuppofed to proceed from the interpolition
of evil fpirits ; the favage confequently
lives in continual appreheniions of their
unkind attacks, and to avert them has re-
courfe to charms, to the fantaftic ceremo-
nies of his prieft, or the powerful influ-
ence of his Manitous. Fear has of courfe
a greater Ihare in his devotions than gra-
titude, and he pays more attention to de-
precating the wrath of the evil than to fe-
curing the flivour of the good beings.
The Indians, however, entertain thefe
abfurdities in common with thofe of every
rart of tiie ^dobe who have not been illu-
mined
[ 389 ]
mined by that religion which only can
dilperfe the clouds of fuperftition aiui ig-
norance, and they are as free from error as
a people can be that has not been favoured
with its inflrudive do6trlnes.
CHAP T E R XIV.
Of their Di s EAS E s, ^r,
TH E Indians in general are healthy,
and fubje^t but to few dilcafes,
many of thofe that afflict civilized nations,
and are the immediate confequences of
luxury or (loth, being not known among
them ; however the hardfliips and fatigues
which they endure in hunting or war,
the inclemency of the feafons to which
they are continually expofed, but above
all the extremes of hunger, and that vo-
racioufnefs their long excurhons confe-
quently fubjed: them to, cannot fail of im-
pairing the conftitution, and bringing on
diforders.
Pains and weaknefles In the ftomach
and bread are fometimes the refult of theij;
long fafting, and confumptions of the ex-
B b 3 ceffive
[ 390 ]
ceflive fatigue and violent exercifes they ex-
pofe themfelves to from their infancy, be^
fore they have ftrength fufficient to fupport
them. But the diforder to which they
are moft fubje£t, is the pleuriiy ; for the
removal of which, they apply their grand
remedy and prefervative againfl: the genera-
lity cf their complaints, fweati ng.
The manner in which they conftrudit
their fcoves for this purpofe is as follows :
They fix feveral fmall poles in the ground,
the tops of which they twift together fo
as . to form a rotunda : tliis frame they
cover with ikins or blankets ; and they
lay them on Vvith fo much nicety, that
the air is kept from entering through any
crevice; a fmall fpace being only left juft
fufficient to creep in at, which is im-
mediately after clofed. In the middle of
this confined building they place red hot
flones, on which they pour water till a
fleam arifes that produces a great degree
of heat.
This caufes an inilantaneous perfpira-
tion, which they increafe as they pleafe.
Having continued in it for fome time,
they immediately haften to the nearefb
ftrearpj and plunge into the water ; and,
after
[ 39^ ]
after bathing therein for about half a mi-
nute, they put on their deaths, lit down
and fmoak with great compofure, tho-
roughly perfuaded that the remedy will
prove efficacious. They often make ufe
of this fudoriferous method to refrefli
themfelves, or to prepare their minds for
the management of any buiinefs that re-
quires uncommon deliberation and faga-
cityi
They are likewife affli£led with the
dropfy and paralytic complaints, which,
however, are but very feldom known
among them. As a remedy for thefe as
well as for fevers they make^ufe of lotions
and decodlions, compofed of herbs, which
the phyficlans know perfectly well how
to compound and apply. But they never
truft to medicines alone ; they always have
recourfe likewife to fome fuperftitious ce-
remonies, without which their patients
would not think the phyfical preparations
fufficiently powerful.
With equal judgment they make ufe of
iimples for the cure of wounds, fra6lures,
or bruifes ; and are able to extradl by
thefe, without incifion, fplinters, iron, or
any fort of matter by which the wound is
B b 4 caufed.
[ ^^'^ ]
caufed. In cures of this kind they are
extremely dextrous, and complete them
m much lefs time than might be expelled
from their mode of proceeding.
With the ikin of a fnake, which thofe
reptiles annually died, they will alfo ex-
tracl: fplinters. It is amazing to fee the
fudden efficacy of this application, not-
withftanding there does not appear to be
the, leail: moifture remaining in it.
It has long been a iubjeft of dilpute,
on what continent the venereal dileafe
firft: received its deftruclive power. This
dreadful mialady is fuppofed to have origi-
nated in America, but the literary conteft
ftill remains undecided ; to give fome elu-
cidation to it I fliall remark, that as I
could not dilcover the leafl: traces among
the Naudovvefhes with whom I relided
fo long, and w-as alfo informed that it
was yet unknown among the more wef-
tern nations, I think I may venture to
pronounce that it had not its origin in
North Am.erica. Thofe nations that have
any communication with the Europeans
or the fouthern tribes are greatly afflict-
ed with it ; but they have all of them
accjuired a knowledge of fuch certain and
expe-
[ 393 1
expeditious remedies, that the communi-
cation is not attended with any dangerous
coniequences.
Soon after I fct out on my travels, one
of the traders whom 1 accompanied, com-
plained of a violent gonorrhoea, with all
its alarming fymptoms : this increaied to
fuch a degree, that by the time we had
reached the town of the Winnebagoes,
he was unable to travel. Having made
his complaint known to one of the chiefs
of that tribe, he told him not to be un-
eafy, for he would engage that by fol-
lowing his advice, he fliould be able in
a few days to purfue his journey, and in
a little longer time be entirely free from
his diforder.
The chief had no fooner faid this than
he prepared for him a deco6lion of the
bark of tiie roqjs of the prickly Afli, a
tree fcarcely known in England, but
which grows in great plenty throughout
North America ; by the ufe of which,
in a few days he was greatly recovered,
and having received directions how to pre-
pare it, in a fortnight after his departure
from this place perceived that he was radi-
, cally cured.
If
[ 394 ]
If from exceffive exercife, or the ex-
tremes of heat or cold, they are affefted
with pains hi their limbs or joints, they
fcarify the parts afFe<5led. Thole nations
who have no commerce with Europeans
do this with a fharp flint ; and it is fur-
prizing to fee to bow fine a point they
have the dexterity to bring them; a lancet
can fcarcely exceed in Iharpnefs the in-
ilruments they make of this unmalleable
fubHance.
They never can be convinced a perfon is
ill, whilll he has an appetite; but when
he rejeds ail kind of nourifhment, they
confider the difeale as dangerous, and pay
great attention to it ; and during the con-
tinuance of the diforder, the phyiician re-
fufes his patient no fort of food that he is
defirous of.
Their do£lors are not only fuppofed
to be Ikilled in the phyfical treatment of
difeafes, but the common people believe
that by the ceremony of the chichicoue-
ufually made ufe of, as before defcribed,
they are able to gain intelligence from the
fpirits of the caule of the complaints with
which they are afflifted, and are thereby
the better enabled to find remedies for
them.
[ 39S ]
them. They dlfcover fomething fuper-
natural hi all their difeafes, and the phyfic
admuiiflered mufl invariably be aided by
thefe fuperilitions.
Sometimes a lick perfon fancies that
his diforder ariles from witchcraft; in
this cafe the phyiician or juggler is con-
fulted, who, after the ufual preparations,
gives his opinion on the ftate of the dif-
eale, and frequently finds fome means for
his cure. But notwithftanding the Indian
phyficians always annex thefe fuperftitious
ceremonies to their prefcriptions, it is
very certain, as I have already obferved,
that they exercife their art by principles
which are founded on the knowledge of
iimples, and on experience which they ac-
quire by an indefatigable attention to their
operations.
The following ftory, which I received
from a perfon of undoubted credit, proves
that the Indians are not only able to rea-
fon with great acutenels on the caufes
and fymptoms of many of the diforders
which are attendant on human nature,
but to apply with equal judgmejit proper
remedies.
In
[ 39^ J
In Penobfcot, a fettlement in the pro-
vince of Main, in the north-eafl; parts of
New England, the wife of a foldier was
taken in labour, and notwithftanding every
neceil'ary afhflance was given her, could
not be dehvered. In this fituation (he
remained for two or three days, the per-
fons around her expelling that the next
pang would put an end to her exiflence.
An Indian woman, who accidentally
palTed by, heard the groans of the un-*
happy fufFerer, and enquired from whencQ
they proceeded. Being made acquainted
with the defperate circumftances attending
the cafe, file told the informant, that if
(he might be periTiitted to fee the perfon,
fhe did not doubt but that ihe could be of
great fervige to her.
The furgeon that had attended, and the
•midwife who was then prefent, havip.g
given up every hope of preferving their
patient, the Indian woman was allowed
to make ufe of any methods flie thought
proper. She accordingly took a hand-
kerchief, and bound it tight over the nofe
and mouth of the woman : this immedi-
ately brought on a fuffocation ; and from
the firuggles that confequently enfued fhe
waa
[ 397 ]
was in a few feconds deiivtr&A. The mo-
ment this was atchieved, and time enoug^h
to prevent any fatal efFevSt, the handker-
chief was taken off. The long fufFcring
patient thus happily reheved from her
pains, foon after perfedily recovered, to
the aftonilliment of all thofe who had
been witnefs to her defperate fituation.
The reafon given by the Indian for this
hazardous method of proceeding was, that
defperate diforders require defperate reme-
dies ; that as ilie obferved the exertions of
nature were not fufficiently forcible to
effed: the defired confequence, fhe thought
it neceflary to augment their force, which
could only be done by fome mode that was
violent in the extreme.
C K A P-
t 39S ]
CHAPTER XV.
Of the Manner hi which they treat their
Dead.
N Indian meets death when it ap-
proaches him in his hut, with the
fame refolution he has often faced him
in the field. His indifference relative to
this important article, which is the fourcs
of fo many apprehenfions to almofl every
other nation, is truly admirable. When
his fate is pronounced by the phyfician,
and it remains no longer uncertain, he ha-
rangues thofe about him with the greateft
compofure.
If he is a chief and has a family, he
makes a kind of funeral oration, which
he concludes by giving to his children
fuch advice for the regulation of their con-
duct as he thinks iiecefiary. He then takes-
leave of his friends, and iffues out orders
for the preparation of a feaft, which is de-
figned to regale thofe of his tribe that
come to pronounce his eulogium.
After
[ 399 ]
After the breath is departed, the body
is drefled in the farne attire it ufually
wore whilft living, his face is painted, and
he is feated in an ere£t pofture on a mat
or Ikin placed in the middle of the hut,
with his weapons by his lide. His rela-
tions being feated round, each harangues
in turn the deceafed ; and if he has been a
great warrior, recounts his heroic adions
nearly to the following purport, which in
the Indian language is extremely poetical
and pleafing :
" You ftill lit among us, Brother,
'* your perfon retains its ufual refem-
" blance, and continues limilar to ours,
'' without any vifible deficiency, except
*' that it has loft the power of adion.
*' But whither is that breath flown,
** which a few hours ago fent up fmoke
*' to the Great Spirit? Why are thofe
*•• lips lilent, that lately delivered to us
*' expreffive and pleafing language ? why
'* are thofe feet motlonlefs, that a fhort
" time ago were fleeter than the deer on
*' yonder mountains ? why ufelefs hang
*' thofe arms that could climb the talleft
" tree, or draw the tougheft bow ? Alas !
«« every part of that frame which Vv'c
*' lately
[ 400 ]
*' lately beheld with admiration and won-
*" der, is now become as inanimate as it
•« was three hundred winters ago. We
" will not, however, bemoan thee as if
*' thou waft for ever loft to us, or that
*' thy name would be buried in obli-
" vion ; thy foul yet lives in the great
*' Country of Spirits, with thofe of thy
*' nation tiiat are gone before thee ; and
*' though we are left belfnid to perpe-
*' tuate thy fame, we fhali one day join
*' thee. A6cuated by the refpe6: we bore
** thee whilft living, we now come to
" tender to thee the laft a6t of kindnefs
*' it is in our power to beftow : that thy
*' body might not lie neglected on the
" plain, and become a prey to the beafts
" of the field, or the fowls of the air,
*' we will take care to lay it with thofe
" of thy predeceffors who are gone be-
" fore thee ; hoping at the fame time,
" that thy fpirit will feed with their fpi-
" rlts, and be ready to receive ours, when
" we alfo ihall arrive at the great Coun-
" try of Souls."
In fhort fpeeches fomewhat fimilar to
this does every chief fpeak the praifes
of his departed friend. When they have
[ 401 ]
fo done, if they happen to be at a great
diftance from the place of interment ap-
propriated to their tribe, and the perfon
dies during the winter feafon, they wrap
the body in fkins, and lay it on a high
ftage built for this purpofe, or on the
branches of a large tree, till the fpring ar-
rives. They then, after the manner de-
fcribed in my Journal, carry it, together
with all thofe belonging to the fame na-
tion, to the general burial-place, where
it is interred with fome other ceremonies
that I could not difcover.
When the Naudoweffies brought their
dead for interment to the great cave, I"
attempted to get an infight into the re-
maining burial rites ; but whether it was
on account of the flench which aroie from
fo many bodies, the weather being then
hot, or whether they chofe to keep this
part of their cuftoms fecret from me, I
could not difcover; I found, however, that
they coniidered my curiolity as ill-timed,
and therefore I withdrew.
After the interment, the band to which
the perfon belongs, take care to fix near the
place fuch hieroglyphicks as fhall ihovv
to future ages his merit and accomplifh-
C c ments.
f 402 ]
merits. It any of thefe people die in the
fummer at a diftance from the burying-
ground, and they find it impoffible to re-
move the body before it putrefies, they
burn the flefh from the bones, and preferv-
ing the latter, bury them in the manner
defcribed.
As the Indians believe that the fouls
of the deceafed employ themfelves in the
fame manner in the country of fpirits, as
they did on earth, that they acquire their
food by hunting, and have there, alfo,
enemies to contend with, they take care
that they do not enter thofe regions de-
fencelefs and unprovided : they confequent-
ly bury with them their bow?, their ar-
rows, and all the other weapons ufed ei-
ther in 'hunting or war. As they doubt
not but they will likewife have occafion
both for the neceffaries of life, and thole
things they efl;eem as ornaments, they
ufually depofit in their tombs fuch ikins
or fluffs as they commonly made their
garments of, domeftic utenfils, and paint
for ornamenting their perfons.
The near relations of the deceafed la-
ment his lofs with an appearance of great
forrow and anguiih ; they weep and howl,
and
[ 403 ]
and make ufe of many contortions, as they
fit in the hut or tent around the body,
when the intervals between the praiies ot
the chiefs will permit.
One formality in mouniing for the
dead among the Naudoweffies is very dif-
ferent from any mode I obferved in the
other nations through which I paffed. The
men, to fhow how great their forrow is,
pierce the fiefh of their arms, above the
elbows, with arrows ; the fears of which
I could perceive on thofe of every rank^
in a greater or lefs degree ; and the wo-
men cut and gafli their legs with fharp
broken flints, till the blood flows very
plentifully.
Whilll I remained among them, a
couple whofe tent was adjacent to mine,
loft a fon of about four years of age. The
parents were fo much afFe6led at the death
of their favourite child, that they pur-
fued the ufual teflimonies of grief with
fuch uncommon rip;our, as throug-h the
weight of forrow and lofs of blood, to oc-
cafion the death of the father. The wo-
man, who had hitherto been inconfolablcj
no fooner faw her hufband expire, than
C c 2 fh§
[ 404 ]
fhe dried np her tears, and appeared cheer-
ful and refigned.
As I knew not how to account for fo
extraordinary a trarifition, I took an oppor-
tunity to a(k her the reafon of it ; tell-
ing her at the fame time, that I Ihould
have imagined the lofs of her hufband
would rather have occasioned an increale
af grief, than fuch a fudden diminution
of it.
She informed me, that as the child
was' fo young when it died, and unable
to fupport itfelf in the country of fpirits,
both fhe and her huihand had been ap-
preheniive that its lituation would be far
from happy ; but no fooner did fhe be-
hold its father depart for the fame place,
who not only loved the child with the
tendereft affection, but was a good hunter,
and would be able to provide plentifully
for its fupport, than fhe ceafed to mourn.
She added, that fhe now faw no reafon
to continue her tears, as the child on
whom fhe doated was happy under the
care and protection of a fond father, and
fhe had only one wi(h that remained un-
gratified, which was that of being herfelf
with them.
Expreffions
[ 405 ]
Expreflions fo replete with unafFe6lcd
tendernefs, and fentiments that would have
done honour to a Roman matron, made
an impreffion on my mhid greatly in fa-
vour of the people to whom fhe belong-?
ed, and tended not a little to counteract
the prejudices I had hitherto entertained,
in common with every other traveller,
of Indian infenlibiiity and want of parental
tendernefs.
Her fubfequent condud confirmed the
favourable opinion I had juft imbibed ;
and convinced me, that, notwithflanding
.this apparent fnfpenfion of her grief, fome
particles of that reluctance to be fepa-
rated from a beloved relation, which is im-
planted either by nature or cuftom in
every human heart, ftill lurked in hers.
I obferved that flie went almofl every even-
ing to the foot of the tree, on a branch of
which the bodies of her hufband and child
were laid, and after cutting off a lock of
her hair, and throwing it on the ground,
in a plaintive melancholy fang bemoaned
its fate. A recapitulation of_j|he actions
he might have performed, l^^ad his life
been fpared, appeared to be her favourite
theme ; and whilft flie foretold the fame
C c 3- that
i 406 ]
that would have att^snded an imitation of
his father's virtues, her grief feemed to be
fufpended : —
" If thou hadfl continued with us, my
dear Son," would fhe cry, " how well
would the bow have become thy hand,
and how fatal would thy arrows have
proved to the enemies of our bands.
Thou wouldft often have drank their
blood, and eaten their flefh, and nu-
merous {laves would have rewarded thy
toils. With a nervous arm wouldft
thou have feized the wounded buffalo,
or have combated the fury of the en-
raged bear. Thou wouldft have over-
taken the flying elk, and have kept
pace on the mountain's brow with the
fleetefl deer. What feats mighteft thou
not have performed, hadft thou ftaid
among us till age had given thee
ftrengh, and thy father had infl:ru6l:ed
thee in every Indian accomplifhment ! ^*
In terms like thefe did this untutored fa-
vage bewail the lofs of her fon, and fre-
quently A^ould ihe pafs the greatefl part
of the night in the affedlionate employ.
The Indians in general are very Rndu
in the obfervance of their laws relative to
mourning
[ 407 ]
mourning for their dead. In fome na-
tions they cut off their hair, blacken their
their faces, and fit in an ered pofture, with
their heads clofely covered, and depriving
themfelves of every pleafure. This feve-
rity is continued for feveral months, and
with fome relaxations tLs appearance is
fometimes kept up for feveral years. I
was told that when the Naudoweffies re-
colleded any incidents of the lives of their
deceafed relations, even after an interval
of ten years, they would howl fo as to
be heard at a great diflance. They would
Sometimes continue this proof of refpedt^
and affedlion for feveral hours ; and if it
happened that the thought occurred, and
the noife was begun towards the evening,
thofe of their tribe who were at hand
would join with them«
C c 4 CHAP-
[ 4o8 ]
CHAPTER XVI.
j4 concife Char ACT ER of the Indians.
THE charader of the Indians, like
that of other uncivilized nations,
is compoled of a mixture of ferocity and
gentlenefs. They are at once guided
by paffions and appetites, which they
hold in common with the fierceft beafls
that inhabit their woods, and are pofleffed
of virtues which do honour to human na-»
ture.
In the following eftimate I fhall en-
deavour to forget on the one hand the pre-
judices of Europeans, who ufually annex
to the word Indian epithets that are dif-
graceful to human nature, and who view
them in no other light than as favages
and cannibals ; whilll u'ith equal care I
avoid any partiality towards them, as
fome muft naturally arife from the favour-
able reception I met with during my flay
among them.
At the fame time I fhall confine my
remarks to the nations inhabiting only
the
[ 409 ]
the weftern regions, fuch as the Nau-
doweffies, the Ottagaumies, the Chipe-
ways, the Winnebagoes, and the Sa'u-
kies ; for as throughout that diverfity of
climates, the extenlive continent of Ame-
rica is compofed of, there are people of
different difpofitions and various charac-
ters, it would be incompatible with my
prefent undertaking to treat of all thefe,
and to give a general view of them as a
conjundtive body.
That the Indians are of a cruel, re-
vengeful, inexorable difpofition, that they
will watch whole days unmindful of the
calls of nature, and make their way
through pathlefs, and almoft unbounded
woods, fubfiiling only on the fcanty
produce of them, to purfue and revenge
themfelves of an enemy ; that they hear
unmoved the piercing cries of fuch as
unhappily fall into their hands, and re-
ceive a diabolical pleafure from the tor-
tures they inflict on their prifoners, I
readily grant; but let us look on the re-
verfe of this terrifying pidure, and we
fhall find them temperate both in their
diet and potations (it mufl be remember-
ed, that I fpeak of thofe tribes who have
little
[ 4IO ]
little communication with Europeans)
that they with-ftand, with unexampled
patience, the attacks of hunger, or the
inclemency of the feafons, and efteem the
gratification of their appetites but as a
fecondary confideration.
We fhall likewife fee them fociable
and humane to thofe whom they confidec
as their friends, and even to their adopted
enemies ; and ready to partake with them
of the laft morfcl, or to rifk their lives in
their defence.
In contradiftion to the report of many
other travellers, all of which have been
tin£lured with prejudice, I can affert, that
notvvith flan ding the apparent indifference
with which an Indian meets his wife and
children after a long abfence, an indifference
proceeding rather from cuflom than in-^
feniibility, he is not unmindful of the
claims either of connubial or parental ten*
dernefs ; the little ftory I have introduced
in the preceding chapter of the Naudo-
weflie woman lamenting her child, and
the immature death of the father, will
elucidate this point, and enforce the af-
lertion much better than the moil fludied
arguments I can make ufe of.
AccuA
[ 41. ]
Accuflomed from their youth to innu«
merable hardlhips, they foon become fu-
perior to a fenfe of danger or the dread
of death ; and their fortitude, implanted
by nature, and nurtured by example,
by precept, and accident, never experiences
a moment's allay.
Though flothful and inailive whilft
their ftore of provifion remains unex-
haufled, and their foes are at a diftance,
they are indefatigable and perfevering in
purfuit of their game, or in circumvent-
ing their enemies.
If they are artful and deiigning, and
ready to take every advantage, if they are
cool and deliberate in their councils, and
cautious in the extreme either of difcovering
their fentiments, or of revealing a fecret,
they might at the fame time boaft of pof-
feffing qualifications of a more animated
nature, of the fagacity of a hound, the
penetrating fight of a lynx, the cunning
of the fox, the agility of a bounding roe,
and the unconquerable fiercenefs of the
tyger.
In their public characters, as form-
ing part of a community, they poflefs
an attachment for that band to which they
belong,
' [ 412 ]
belong, unknown to the inhabitants of
any other country. They combine, as if
they were aduated only by one foul,
againft the enemies of their nation, and
banifh from their minds every confidera-
tion oppofed to this.
They confult without unneceflary op-
pofition, or without giving way to the
excitements of envy or ambition, on the
meafures neceffary to be purfued for the
deflrudion of thofe who have drawn
on themfelves their difpleafure. No felf-
ifh views ever influence their advice,
or obftru<^ their confultations. Nor is
it in the power of bribes or threats to
dlminlfh the love they bear their coun-
try.
The honour of their tribe, and the
welfare of their nation, is the firft and
mofl: predominant emotion of their hearts ;
and from hence proceed in a great mea-
fure all their virtues and their vices.
Actuated by this, they brave every dan-
ger, endure the mofl: exquifite torments,
and expire triumphing in their fortitude,
not as a perfonal qualification, but as a
national charaderiftic.
From
C 413 ] ■
From thence alfo flow that infatlablo
revenge towards thofe with whom they
are at war, and all the confequent horrors
that difgrace their name. Their uncul-
tivated mind, being incapable of judging
of the propriety of an a6lion, in oppofi-
tion to their paffions, which are totally
infenfible to the controuls of reafon or hu-
manity, they know not how to keep
their fury within any bounds, and con-
fequently that courage and refolution,
which would otherwife do them honour,
degenerates into a favage ferocity.
But this Ihort diflertation mufl fuffice ;
the limits of my work will not permit
me to treat the fubjedt more copiouHy,
or to purfue it with a logical regularity.
The obfervations already mad6 by my rea-
ders on the preceding pages, will, I truft,
render it unneceflary ; as by them they
will be enabled to form a tolerably jufl
idea of the people I have been defcribing.
Experience teaches, that anecdotes, and
relations of particular events, however
trifling they might appear, enable us to
form a truer judgment of the manners
and cujftoms of a people, and are much
more declaratory of their real ftate, than
I the
C 414 ]
the mofl fludled and elaborate difcjiiifitlbiij
without thefe aids.
CHAP. XVIL
Of their Language, Hierogly-
ph icks, ^c,
THE principal languages of the na-
tives of North America may be
divided into four clafles, as they conlifl of
fuch as are made ufe of by the nations
of the Iroquois towards the eaftern parts
of it, the Chipeways or Algonkins to the
north-weft, the Naudoweflies to the weft,
and the Cherokees, Chickafaws, . &c. to
the fouth. One or other of thefe four
are ufed by all the Indians who inhabit
the parts that lie between the coaft of
Labradore north, the Florida fouth, the
Atlantic ocean eaft, and, as far as we can
judge from the difcoveries hitherto made^
the Pacific Ocean on the weft.
But of all thefe, the Chipeway tongue
appears to be the moft prevailing; it be-
ing held in fuch efteem, that the chiefs
of every tribe, dwelling about the great
lakes,
- [ 415 ]
lakes, or to the weflward of thefe on the
banks of the Mifliffippi, with thofe as far
fouth as the Ohio, and as far north as Hud-
fon's Bay, confifting of more than thirty
different tribes, fpeak this language alone
in their councils, notwithftandiug each has
a peculiar one of their own.
It will probably in time become uni-
verfal among all the Indian nations, as
none of them attempt to make excuriions
to any great diflance, ox are coniidered as
qualified to carry on any negociation with
a diflant band, unlefs they have acquired
the Chipeway tongue.
At prefent, befides the Chipeways, to
whom it is natural, the Ottawaws, ths
Saukies, the Ottagaumies, the KiUifti-
iioes, the Nipegcns, the bands about
LakeLe Pleuve, and the remains of the
Algonkins or Gens de Terre, all con-
Verfe in it, with feme little variation of
dialect; but whether it be natural to thefc
nations, or acquired, I was not able to
difcover. I am however of opinion that
the barbarous and uncouth dialect of
the Winnebagoes, the Menomonies, and
many other tribes, will become in time
totally
[ 4i6 ]
totally extindl, and this be adopted in its
ftead.
The Chipeway tongue is not ineum-
bered with any unneceffary tones or ac-
cents, neither are there any words in it
that are fuperfluous ; it is alfo eafy to
pronounce, and much more copious than
any other Indian language.
As the Indians are unacquainted with
the poUte arts, or with the fciences, and
as they are alfo Grangers to ceremony or
compliment, they neither have nor need
an infinity of words wherewith to em-
bellifii their difcourfe. Plain and unpo-
liflied in their manners, they only make
ufe of fuch as ferve to denominate the ne-
ceflaries or conveniences of life, and to
exprefs their wants, which in a ilate of
nature can be but few.
I have annexed hereto a fhort vocabulary
of the Chipeway language, and another of
that of the Naudoweffies, but am not able
to reduce them to the rules of grammar.
The latter is fpoken in a foft accent,
without any guttural founds, fo that it
may be learnt with facility, and is not
difficult either to be pronounced or writ-
ten. It is nearly as copious and expref-
iive as the Chipeway tongue, and is the
mofl
[ 417 ]
mod: prevailing language of any on the
weftern banks of the Miffiffippi ; being
in ufe, according to their account, among
all the nations that lie to the north of the
Mefforie, and extend as far wefl as the
Ihores of the Pacific Ocean,
As the Indians are not acquainted with
letters, it is very difficult to convey with
precifion the exa^l found of their words;
I have however endeavoured to ^vrite them
as near to the manner in which they are
exprefied, as fuch an uncertain mode will
admit of.
Although the Indians cannot commu-
nicate their ideas by writing, yet they
form certain hieroglyphicks, which, in
fome meafure, ferve to perpetuate any
extraordinary tranfadlion, or uncommon
event. Thus when they are on their ex-
curiions, and either intend to proceed,
or have been, on any remarkable enter-
prize, they peel the bark from the trees
which lie in their way, to give intelli-
gence to thofe parties that happen to be
at a diflance, of the path they mufl pur-
fue to overtake them.
The following inflance will convey a
more perfed idea of the methods they
D d make
[ 4i8 3
make "ufe of on this occafion, than aiiy
expreffions I can frame.
When I left the Miffiffippi, and pro*
ceeded up the Chipeway River in my
Way to Lake Superior, as related in my
Journal, my guide, who was a chief of
the Chipeways that dwell on the Otta-
waw Lake, near the heads of the river
we had juft entered, fearing that fome
parties of the Naudoweffies, with whom
his nation are perpetually at war, might
accidentally fall in with us, and before
they were apprized of my being in com-
pany, do us fome mifchief, he took the
following fteps.
He peeled the bark from a large tree
near the entrance of a river, and with
wood-coal mixed with bear's-greafe, their
uiiial fubflitute for ink, made in an un-
couth but expreffive manner the figure of
the town of the Ottagaumies. He then
formed to the left a man dreffed in ikins,
by which he intended to reprefent a Nau-
doweffie, with a line drawn from his
mouth to that of a deer, the fvmbol of
the Chipeways. After this he depi6tured
ftiil farther to the left a canoe as pro-
ceeding up the river, in which he placed
a man
t 419 ]
a man fitting with a hat on ; this figure
was de{>gned to reprefent an Englilhman,
or myfelf, and my Frenchman was drawn
with a handkerchief tied round his head,
and rowing the canoe ; to thefe he added
feveral other iignificant emblems, among
which the Pipe of Peace appeared painted
on the prow of the canoe*
The meaning he intended to convey
to the JNaudoweffies, and which I doubt
not appeared perfedly intelhgible to them,
was, that one of the Chipeway chiefs had
received a fpeech from fome Naudoweffie
chiefs at the town of the Ottagaumies,
defiring him to conduct the Englifhmanj
who had lately been among them, up the
Chipeway river; and that they thereby
required, that the Chipeway, notwith-
ftanding he was an avowed enemy, fliould
not be molefted by them on his pafl'age,
as he had the care of a perfon whom they
efteemed as one of their nation.
Some authors have pretended that the
Indians have armorial bearings, which
they blazon with great exadlnefs, and
which diflinguifh one nation from an-
other; but I never could obterve any other ^
arms among them than the fymbols al-
ready defcribed.
D d 2 ^ A (hort
[ 420 ]
A fhort Vocabulary of the Chipeway
Language.
N. B. This people do not make ufe either of
the Gonfonants F or V.
A
A BOVE
JL jL Abandon
Spimink
Pachiton
Admirable
Ftlawah
Afterwards
Mipldach
All
Kokinum
Always
Kokali
Amifs
Napitch
Arrive
'Takouchin
Ax
Agacwet
Afhes
Pingoe
Affifl
Mawinewah
B
Ball Alewin
Bag,oL" tobacco-pouchG7^^/<3ie;^/?«
Barrel Oweniawgan
Beat Pakk'ite
B.-ar,
Mackwah
5
Bear,
[ 421 ]
Bear, a
Beaver
young one
Makon
Am'ik
Beaver*s fkin
Be, or to be
Apim'miqui
T^apale
Beard
Becaufe
Mi/chiton
Mew'mch
Believe
^ilerimah
Belly
Black
Mijhemout
Markaute
Blood
Body
Bottle
Brother
Mijkow
Toe
ShiJJjego
Neconnis
Brandy,
or Rum
Scuttawawbah
Bread
Breech
Breeches
Buck
PabouJJjigan
Mifcoufab
Kipokitie Koujah
Wqjketcb
Canoe
Cheman
Call
T^epenekaw
Chief, a
Okemaw
Carry
Petou
Child, or
Child]
ren
Bobelofcin
Coat
Capoiewia?t
Cold, I am
Kekaich
Dd a
Cpme
' 422
Come on
Moppa
Come to
Pemotcha
Comrade
Neechee
Concerned
I'alletmJJi
Corn
Melom'in
Coverinp;,or a Blan- 1 jrr 7
ket 5
Country Eridawlawkcen
C oil rage 'J'agijuawmiJJii
Cup Olawgan
D
Dance
Nemeh
Dart
SheJJjikwee
Die, to
Nip
Di(h
Machoan
Dog
Alim
Dead
Necpoo
Devil, or evil Spirit
: Maicho-Manitou
Dog, a little one
Alemon
Done, it is done
Sh'iah
Do
To/Jjiton
Doubtleis
Ontclatouhah
Drefs the kettle
Poiitwah
Drink
Min'ikwah
Prunken
Ouifqiiiba
Pyck
Chickhip
E^irtli
[ 423 1
Earth
j^ukwin
Eat
OwiJJini
Each
Papegik
Englifli
Sagauno/fj
Enough
Mimiiic
Equal, or alike
Tawbifcouch
Efteem
ISlawpeteUmaw
Eyes
JViJkmkhh
'
F
Faft
IValleblc
Fall
Ponki/in
Far ofF
IVatJaw
Fat
Plmmltee
Friend
Niconnis
Father
Noofab
Few, or little
Maungis
Fatigued
^aukwijji
Field fown
Kittegaumlc
Fire
Scutta
Fire, to flrike
Scutecke
Find
Nantounawaiv
Fifh
Kickon
Fork
Najfawokwot
D d 4 Formerly
[ 424 ]
Formerly Pirwego
Fort Wakaigon
Forward ISlopawink
French Nechtegoofo
Freeze, to Kijfin
Freezes hard* Kijjin Magat
Full Mopfiinet
Fuzee or Gim PqfkeJJiga?t
G
God, or the Great) „. ,. -.^ •
c ' • S' Kit cm Mamlou
bpirit J
Go by water Pimmifcaw
Girl yechjoaffin
Give Mill aw
Glais, a mirror i-v awbenm
Good Cawlatch
Good for nothing Malatal
(joveni "1 ibarhuaw
General, or Com-'? Kite hi 0km aw
rnandcr in Chief \SimauganiJ!)
Grapes Sboamln
Great Manatou
Greedy SawfiwkiJJi
Guts Olawbi/lj
Hare
[ 425 ]
H
Hare
Wawpoos
Heart
Michewah
Hate
Shlngaiirima^'i}
Half
NaTvbal
Hair, human
LiJJis
Hair of bcafls
Pewal
Handfome
Canoghiinne
Have
'TcnidauLvw
Head ,
Oujiecouan
Heaven
Speminkakw'm
Herb
Mejafi
Here
Acofida
Hidden
Ketnouch
Home
K?itaye?it
Honour
Mackawalaw
Hot
AkeJJjotta
How
l^awne
How many
'J'awnemiUk
Hunt
KeivaJTa
Hut, or Houfe
JVig-lVaiim
Indians
Iron
JJlj'mawbah
Pcwazvbick
liland
[ 426 ]
Ifland
Minis
Immediately
Webatch
Indian Corn
Mittawmin
Intlrely
Nawpitch
Impoftor
MawlawtiJJie
It might be fo
'Tawfieendo
K
Kettle
Ackikons
King, or Chief
Okemaw
Keep
Gatnverimaw
Knife
Mockoman
Knife that is crooked Cootawgon
Know 'T' bicker em aw
L
Lake
Kitchigawmink
Laugh
Lazy
Lame
Pawpi
Kittimi
Kikekate
Leave
Pockiion
Letter
Life
Mawfignaugon
Nouchimowin
Love
Saukie
Long fince
Land Carriage
Shawjhia
Cappatawgoji
Lofe
[
427 3
Lofe
Packilaugui
Lie down
JVeepemaw
Little
IVauheJheen
M
Meat
Weas
Much
Nibbilaw
Man
AUllfinape
March, to
go
PimmouJJis
Marry
Weewin
Medicine
Majkikk
Merchandize
Aloliochlgon
Moon
Debicot
Mortar to
pound
in Poutawgon
Male
Nape
Miftrefs
Neremoujin
N
Needle
Shawbonk'm
Near
Pewitch
Nation
Irinee
Never
Cawlkkaw
Night
"Debicot
No
Kaw
Nofe
Toch
Nothing
Kakego
Not
[ 4^8 ]
jsjot yet Kawmifchi
Not at all Kaguich
Nought, good ^ox^Malatat
nothing J
O
Old
KauweJJj'me
Otter
Nikkik
Other
Coutack
Pipe Poagan
Part, what Part iawnapee
Play Packeigo
Powder, gun, or duft Pingo
Peace, to make Pecacotkhe
Pray
Proper
Presently
Peninfula
Quick
^awlaimia
Sazvfc\
^a
Wehatch
Mlnn'ijfin
Kegotch
Regard
[ 429 3
R
Regard
Wawhemo
Red
Mifcow
Refolve
^ibelindon
Relation
'^awwemaw
Refped
^awbawmica
Rain
Kimmewan
Robe
Ockolaw
River
Sippim
Run, to
.
Pitchebot
Sad
S
^alimijjle
Sail
Pemifcaw
Sack, or
Bag
Majkimot
Sea, or large
Lake
Agankitchigawmink
Shoes
Maukiffin
Ship, or ;
large
Canoe Kitchi Cheman
Sorry
Nifcottijie
Spirit
Manitou
Spoon
Mickwon ^
Star
Alank
Steal
Kemautin
Stocking^
>
Mittaus
Strong
[ 43*^ ]
Strong
MafikatiiJoah
Sturgeon
Law mack
Sun
Wis
Sword
Simaugan
Surprizing
Etwah^ Riwah
See
Wawbemo
Since
Mapedoh
Shirt
Papawkwean
Slave
JVackan
Sleep
Nippee
Sit down
Mintepln
T
Take
Kmaundah
Teeth
Tibh'tt
That
Mawbah
There
Watjaudebl
This
Maundah
Truly
Kikit
Together
Mawmawwee
Tobacco
Semau
Tongue
Outon
Tired
I'awkofifie
Too little
Ofaummangis
Too much
Ojfaune
Thank you
Megwatch
To-morrow
To-morrow
To-morrow the
after
: 431 ]
Wawbuiik
•' VOufwawbunk
W
Warriors
Semauganaujb
Water
Nebbi
War
Na?itaubaulaiv
Way
Mlckon
Well then !
^auneendah !
What is that ?
IVawwewin f
What now ?
^agonie ?
Whence
I'aunippl
Where
^ah
White
Waubi
Who is there ?
^agon'ie Maubah f
Wind
Lout'm
Winter
Pepoun
Woman
Ickwee
Wood
Mittic
Wolf .
Mawhlngon
Y
Yefterday
Petchilawgo
Yet
Minnewatch
Young
Young
Yellow
432 J
WlJconekUii
Wa%%
0,
^he Numerical 'Terms of the Ch'ipeways^
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
ien
Eleven
Twenty
Thirty
Forty
Fifty
Sixty
Seventy
Eighty
Paj
Ninch
Nijfou
Neau
Naran
Ningoiitwqlfou
Ninchowajfou
Nijfowajfou
Shongajfou
Mlttaujfou
Mittauffou Pajldik
Nlnchtawnaw
NJJfou M'lttawnaw
Neau M'lttawnaw
Naran Mitt awn aw
t Kingoutwajfou M'lt-
\ tawnaw
C Ninchowa[foii Mit-
l tawnaw
5 NKfowaJfou Mit-
\ tawnaw
Ninety
[ 433 ]
^ 2 naw
rr ^ ^ \MittauJfou MittdW*
naw
^, r 1 \Minau(fou Mtttauf-
Thouland < ^ tut-..
I Jou Mittawnaw.
A Short Vocabulary of the Naudo-*
weffie Language.
A
Axe
Afipaw
B
Beaver
Chawbah
Buffalo
Bad
Broach
'Tawtongo
Shejah
Muzahootoo
Bearj a
Wahkonjhejah
C
Canoe
Waahtoh
Cold
Mechuetah
Child, a
Male
Wechoakfeh
E e Child,
f
434 3
Child, a Female
Come here
Whacheeljeh
Accooyoulyare
D
Dead
Deer
Dog
Negufj
^ohinjoh
Shungujh
E
Eat
Echawmenaw
Ears
Nookah
Eyes
Evil
EJhtike
Shejah
F
Fire
Paabtah
Father
Otah
Frenchman
Falls of Water
Neehfeegu/h
Owah Menah
Friend
Kitchiwah
G -
Good
Give
Wofitah
Accooyeh .
Go
[ 435 ]
Go away Accoowah
God, or the Great 7, rr ,
Spirit r'^^""
Gun Muzah fVakon
Great *Tongo
Gold Muzaham
H
Hear Nooki/fjon
Horfe Shuetongo
Home, or domeftlc Shuah
Houfe ^eebee
Heaven Wojlota febet
I
Iron Muzah
I, or me Meoh
K
King, or Chief Otah
Kill Negujhtaugaw
IE, ^ 2, Little
I .436 ]
Little
Jejlln
Long
^ongoom
Lake
Tongo Meneh
Love
Ehwahmeah
k
Much
Otah
More
Otenaw
Moon
Oweeh
Mouth
Eeh
Medal
Muzah Otah
Mine
Mewah
Milk
Etjawboh
N
Near
Heyah
yeeflmaw
O
Hoplnlyahie I
pipe
I 437 3
Pipe
Shanuapaw
Pipe of Peace
Shanuapaw IVakon
R
Rain
Owah Meneh
Ring
Muzamchupab
Round
Chupah
s
Smoke
Shaweah
Salt Water
Menis ^eah
See, to
EJhtaw
Sleep
Eifhteemo
Snake
Omli/Jjcaw
Sun
Paahtah
Spirit
IVakon
Spirituous Liquors
Meneh JVakon
Snow
Sinnee
Surprizing
Hopiniayare
Silver
Muzaham
E
Tobacco
[ 438 ]
Tobacco
Shawfijfa'm
Talk
Owehchin
Tree
Ochaw
There
Dache '
W
Woman
Wlnnokejah
Wonderful
Hopiniyare
Water
Meneh
What
7'awgo
Who Is there ?
J'awgodaeM f
Wicked
Heyahachta
You Chee
Young Hawpawnaw
You are good JVaJhtah Chee
You are a Spirit Wakon Chee
You are my ^oo^lPVaJhtah Kitchiwah
Friend ^ Chee
No Good Beyah IVaJhtah.
Tht
[ 439 ]
^he Numerical Terms of the NaudoweJJl^.
One Wonchaw
Two Noompaiv
Three Tawmonee
Four Tohoh
Five Sawbuttee
Six Shawco
Seven Shawcopee
Eight Shah'indohin
Nine ISlebochunganong
Ten Wegochunganong
Eleven Wegochunganong
I fVpncbaw
Twenty Vregochun^anong
^ I Noompaiv
^, . S Wegochunganong
•^ c 1 awmonee
^ S Wegochunganong
^ I Toboh
jj,.^ 5 Wegochunganong
^ J Sawbuitee
^, j Wegochunganong
•' ^ Shawco
Seventy {^^^^<'<:^««5-''«^»^
■' '' ohawcopec
E e 4 Eighty
[ 440 ]
'£]ghty \ l^'egochunganong
° ^ I Shahindohin
j^-^ \ Wegochunganong
-' \ Nebochunganong
Hundred Opohng
Thoufand KWegochunganong
^ Opohng,
To this fhort vocabulary of the Naudo-
weffie language, I fhall adjoin a fpecimen
of the manner in which they unite their
words. I have chofen for this purpofe a
a fhort fong, which they iing, with fome
kind of melody, though not with any
appearance of poetical mcafure, when they
fet out on their hunting expeditions : and
have given as near a tranflation as the
difference of the idioms will permit.
Meoh accoowah eJJjtaw faatah negiijh-
iawgazv fiejah men ah. T'ongo Wakon
we oh wojhta^ paatah accootvah. HopinU
yah'te oweeh accooyee meoh^ wojhla patah
otoh toh'mjoh meoh teebee,
I will arife before the fun, and afcend
yonder hill, to fee the new light chafe
away the vapours, and difperfe the clouds.
Great Spirit give me fuccefs. And when
the fun is gone, lend me, oh moon,
light
[ 441 ]
light fufficient to guide me with fafety
back to my tent loaden with deer !
CHAPTER XVIII.
Of the Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Rep-
tiles, and Insects, ijohich are found
In the interior Parts of North America,
OF thefe I fhall, in the firfl place,
give a catalogue, and afterwards a
defcription of fuch only as are either pe-
culiar to this country, or which differ
in fome material point from thofe that
are to be met with in other realms.
OF THE BEASTS.
The Tyger, the Bear, Wolves, Foxes,
Dogs, the Cat of the Mountain, the
Wild Cat, the Buffalo, the Deer, the
Elk, the Mooie, the Carrabou, the
Carcajou, the Skunk, the Porcupine,
the fiedge-hog, thc^ Wood-chuck, the
Raccoon, the Martin, the Fiiher, the
Mulkcjuaw, Sc^uirrels, Hares, Rabbits,
the
t 442 ]
the Mole, the Weezel, the Moufe, the
Dormoufe, the Beaver, the Otter, the
Mink, and Bats.
The TYGER. The Tyger of Ame-
rica refembles in Ihape thofe of Africa
and Afia, but is conliderably fmaller.
Nor does it appear to be fo fierce and
ravenous as they are. The colour of it
is a darkifb fallow, and it is entirely free
frorn fpots. I faw one on an ifland in
the Chipeway River, of which I had
a very good view, as it was at no great
diltance from me. It fat up on its
hinder parts like a dog ; and did not
feem either to be apprehenlive of our ap-
-.proach, or to difcover any ravenous in-
clinations. It is however very feldom
to be met with in this part of the
world.
The BEAR. Bears are very nume-
rous on this continent, but more parti-
cularly fo in the northern parts of it,
and contribute to furnifh both food and
beds for almofl every Indian nation.
Thofe of America differ in many refpe6ls
from thofe either of Greenland or Ruflia,
t;hey being not only fomewhat fmaller, but
timorous
[ 443 1
timorous and Inoffenfive, unlefs they are
pinched by hunger, or fmarting from a
wound. The fight of a man terrifies
them ; and a dog will put feveral to
flight. They are extremely fond of
grapes, and will climb to the top of the
higheil: trees in queft of them. This
kind of food renders their flefii exceffively
rich and finely flavoured ; and it is con-
lequently preferred by the Indians and
traders to that of any other animal. The
fat is very white, and befides being fweet
and wholefome, is poflefled of one valu-
able quality, which is, that it never
cloys. The inhabitants of thefe parts
conflantly anoint themfelves with it, and
to its efficacy they in a great meafure
owe their agility. The feafon for hunt-
ing the bear is during the winter ; when
they take up their abode in hollow trees,
or make themfelves dens in the roots of
thofe that are blown down, the entrance
of which they ftop up with branches of
fir that lie fcattered about. From thefe
retreats it is faid they ftir not whilfl: the
weather continues fevere, and as it is vvell
known that they do not provide them-
felves with food, they are fuppofed to be
enabled
[ 444 ]
enabled by nature to fubfifl for feme
months without, and during this time
to continue of the fame bulk.
The WOLF. The wolves of North
America are much lefs than thofe which
are met with in other parts of the world.
They have, however, in common with
the reft of their fpecies, a wildnefs in their
looks, and a fiercenefs in their eyes ; not-
withftanding which they are far from be-
ing fo ravenous as the European wolves,
nor will they ever attack a man, except
they have accidentally fed on the flefh of
thofe flain in battle. When they herd
together, as they often do in the winter,
they make a hideous and terrible noife.
In thefe parts there are two kinds; one
of which is of a fallow colour, the other
of a dun, inclining to a black.
The FOX. There are two forts of
foxes in North America, which differ
only in their colour, one being of
a reddifh brown, the other of a grey ;
thofe of the latter kind that are found
near the river Miffiffippi, are extremely
beautiful, their hair being of a fine filver
grey.
DOGS.
I 445 ^
DOGS. The dogs employed by the
Indians in hunting appear to be all of
the fame fpecies ; they carry their ears
€re£t, and greatly refemble a wolf about
the head. They are exceedingly ufeful
to them in their hunting excurfioiis, and
will attack the fiercefl of the game they
are in purfuit of. They are alfo remark-
able for their fidelity to their mafters ; but
being ill fed by them are very trouble-
fome in their huts or tents.
The CAT of the Mountain. This
creature is in fliape like a cat, only much
larger. The hair or fur refembles alfo the
(kin of that domeflic animal ; the colour
however differs, for the former is of a
reddilh or orange caft, but grows lighter
near the belly. The whole fkin is beau-
tified with black fpots of different figures,
of which thofe on the back are long, and
thofe on the lower parts round. On the
ears there are black ftripes. This creature
is nearly as fierce as a leopard, but will
feldom attack a man.
The BUFFALO. This beaft, of
which there are amazing numbers in thefe
parts, is larger than an ox, has fhort
black horns, with a large beard under his
chin,
[ 4+6 ]
chin, and his head is fo full of hair, that
it falls over his eyes, and gives him a
frightful look. There is a bunch on his
back which begins at the haunches, and
increaling gradually to the (boulders,
reaches on to the neck. Both this excref-
cence and its whole body are covered
with long hair, or rather wool, of a dun
or moufe colour, which is exceedingly va-
luable, efpecially that on the fore part of
the body. Its head is larger than a bull's,
with a very Ihort neck; the breafl is
broad, and the body decreafes towards the
buttocks. Thefe creatures will run away
at the fight of a man, and a whole herd
will make off when they perceive a fmgle
dog. The flelh of the buffalo is excellent
food, its hide extremely ufeful, and the
hair very proper for the manufacture of
various articles.
The DEER, There is but one fpe-
cies of deer in North America, and thefe
are higher and of a flimmer make than
thofe in Europe. Their (hape is near-
ly the fame as the European, their co-
lour of a deep fallow, and their horns
very large and branching. This beaft is
the fwifteft on the American plains, and
they
[447 ]
they herd together as they do in other
countries.
The ELK greatly exceeds the deer in
lize, being in bulk equal to a horfe. Its
body is fhaped like that of a deer, only
Its tail is remarkably fhort, being not
more than three inches long. The co-
lour of its hair, which is grey, and not
unlike that of a camel, but of a more
reddifli caft, is nearly three inches in
length, and as coarfe as that of a horfe.
The horns of this creature grow to a pro-
digious lize, extending fo wide that two
or three perfons might fit between them
at the fame time. They are not forked
like thofe of a deer, but have all their
teeth or branches on the outer edge.
Nor does the form of thofe of the elk
refemble a deer's, the former being flat,
and eight or ten inches broad, whereas
the latter are round and confiderably nar-
rower. They fhed their horns every year
in the month of February, and by Auguft
the new ones are nearly arrived at their
full growth. Notwithflanding their fize,
and the means of defence nature has fur-
nifhed them with, they are as timorous
as a deer. Their Ikin is very ufeful^ and
will
t 448 1
will drefs as well as that of a buck. They
feed on grafs in the fummer, and on mofs
or buds in the winter.
The MOOSE is nearly about the fize
of the elk, and the horns of it are almoft
as enormous as that anlmaFs ; the ftem of
them however are not quite fo wide, and
they branch on both iides like thofe of a
deer. This creature alfo flieds them every
year. Though its hinder parts are very
broad, its tail is not above an inch long.
It has feet and legs like a camel ; its head
is about two feet long, its upper lip
much larger than the under, and the nof-
trils of it are fo wide that a man might
thruft his hand into them a confider-
able way. The hair of the moofe is light
grey, mixed with a blackifh red. It is
very elaftic, for though it be beaten ever
fo long, it will retain its original Ihape.
The flefh is exceeding good food, eafy
of digeftion, and very nourifliing. The
iioie, or upper lip, which is large and
loofe from the gums, is efteemed a great
delicacy, being of a firm conliftence, be-
tween marrow and griftle, and when pro-
perly drefled, affords a rich and lufcious
difti. Its hide is very proper for leather,
I being
[ 449 ]
being thick and ftrong, yet foft and plia^
ble. The pace of this creature is always
a trot, which is fo expeditious, that it is
exceeded in fwiftnefs but bv few of its
fellow inhabitants of thefe woods. It is
generally found in the forefts, where it
feeds on mofs and buds. Though this
creature is of the deer kind, it never
herds as thofe do. Moft authors confound
it with the elk, deer, or carrabou, but it
is a fpecies totally different, as might be
difcovered by attending to ths defcription
I have given of each.
The CARRABOU. This beafl is not
near fo tall as the moofe, however it is
fomething like it in fhape, only rather
more heavy, and inclining to the form of
the afs. The horns of it are not fjlat as
thofe of the elk are, but round like thofe
of the deer ; they alfo meet nearer together
at the extremities, and bend more over
the face, than either thofe of the elk or
moofe. It partakes of the fwiftnefs of
the deer, and is with difficulty over-
taken by its purfuers. The fleih of it
likewife is equally as good, the tongue
particularly is in high efteem. The Ikin
F f ' being
t 45^ ]
being fmooth and free from veins, is m
Valuable as fhamoy.
The CARCAJOU. This creature,
which is of the cat kind, is a terri-
ble enemy to the preceding four fpe-
cies of beails. He either comes upon
them from fome concealment unperceived,
or climbs up into a tree, and taking his
ilation on fome of the branches, waits till
one of them, driven by an extreme of
heat or cold, takes fhelter under it ; when
he faftens upon his neck, and opening the
jugular vein, foon brings his prey to the
ground. This he is enabled to do by his
long tail, with which he encircles the
body of his adverfary ; and the only
means they have to fhun their fate, is
by flyiiig immediately to the water, by
this method, as the carcajou has a great
diflike to that element, he is fometimes
got rid of before he can effe6l his pur-
pofe.
The SKUNK. This is the moft ex-
traordinary animal that the American
woods produce. It is rather lefs than a
pole-cat, and of the fame fpecies ; it is
therefore often miftaken for that creature,
but is very different from it in many points.
I Its
i 45M
Its hair IS long and fhinlng, variegated
with large black and white fpots, the
former moflly on the fhoulders and rump ;
its tail is very bufhy, like that of the
fox, part black, and part white, like its
body ; it lives chiefly in the woods and
hedges. But its extraordinary powers are
only fhewn when it is purfued. As fooii
as he finds himfelf in danger he ejects,
to a great diflance from behind, a
finall flream of water, of fo fubtile a na-
ture, and at the fame time of fo power-
ful a fmell, that the air is tainted with
it for half a mile in circumference ; and
his purfuers, whether men or dogs, be-
ing almofl fuffocated with the flench, are
obliged to give over the purfuit. On this
account he is called by the French, En-
fant du Diable, the Child of the Devil ;
or Bete Puante, the Stinking Beaft. It
is almofl impoflible to defcribe the
noifome effects of the liquid with which
this creature is fupplied by nature for its
defence. If a drop of it falls on your
cloaths, they are rendered fo difagreeable
t^at it is impoflible ever after to wear
them ; or if any of it enters your eyelids,
F f 2 the
t 452 ]
the pain becomes intolerable for a long
time, and perhaps at laft you lofe your
fight. The fmell of the fkunk, though
thus to be dreaded, is not like that of a
putrid carcafe, butaftrong foetid effluvia of
mufk, which difpleafes rather from its pe-
netrating power than from its naufeouf-
iiefs. It is not with {landing conlidered as
conducive to clear the head and to raife
the fpirits. This water is fuppofed by
naturalifts to be its urine ; but I havedif-
ie6led many of them that I have fhot, and-
have found within their bodies, near the
urinal veflels, a fmall receptacle of water,
totally diftindl from the bladder which
contained the urine, and from which alone
I am fatisfied the horrid ftench proceeds.
After having taken out with great care
the bag wherein this water is lodged, I
have frequently fed on them, and have
found them very fweet and good ; but
one drop emitted taints not only the car-
cafe, but the whole houfe, and renders
every kind of provilions that are in it un-
fit for ufe. With great juftice therefore
do the French give it luch a diabolical
name.
The
[ 453 1
The PORCUPINE. The body of
an American porcupine is in bulk about
the fize of a fmall dog, but it is both
fhorter in length, and not fo high from
the ground. It varies very much from
thofe of other countries both in its fhape
and the length of its quills. The former
is like that of a fox, except the head,
which is not fo fharp and long, but re-
lembles more that of a rabbit. Its body
is covered with hair of a dark brown,
about four inches long, great part of
which are the thicknefs of a ftraw, and
are termed its quills. Thele are white,
with black points, hollow, and very
ilrong, efpecially thofe that grow on the
back. The quills ferve this creature for
ofFenlive and defenfive weapons, which
he darts at bis enemies, and if they pierce
the flefh in the leaft degree, they will
fink quite into it, and are not to be ex-
tracted without incifion. The Indians
nfe them for boring their ears and nofes
to infert their pendants, and alfo by way
of ornament to their flockings, hair, &c.
befides which they greatly eileem the
flelh.
F f 3 The
[ 454 J
The WOOD'CHUCK is a ground
animal of the fur kind, about the fize of
a martin, being nearly fifteen inches
long ; its body however is rounder, and
his legs fhorter ; the fore paws of it are
broad, and conftruded for the purpofe of
digging holes in the ground, where it
burrows like a rabbit ; its fur is of a grey
colour on the reddifb caft, and its flefh
tolerable food.
The RACOON is fomewhat lefs in
fize than a beaver, and its feet and legs
are like thofe of that creature, but {hort
in proportion to its body, which refem-
bies that of a badger. The fhape of its
head is much like a fjx's, only the ears
are lliorter, more round and naked ; and
its hair is alfo fimilar to that animal's, be-
ing thick, long, foft, and black at the
ends. On its face there is a broad flripe
that runs acrofs it, and includes the eyes,
which are large. Its inuzzle is black,
^nd at the end roundjfh like that of a dog 5
the teeth are alfo fimilar to thofe of a dog
in number and fhape ; the tail is long and
round, with annular ffripes on it like
thofe of a cat ; the feet have five long
Render toes armed with fharp claws, by
which
[ 455 ]
Xvlilch it IS enabled to climb up trees like
a monkey, and to run to the very extre-
mities of the boughs. It makes ufe of its
fore feet in the manner of hands, and
feeds itfelf with them. The flefh of this
creature is very good in the months of
September and Odober, when fruit and
ftuts, on which it likes to feed, are
plenty.
The MARTIN is rather larger than a
fquirrel, and fomewhat of the fame make ;
its legs and claws however are confidera-
bly fhorter. Its ears are Ihort, broad,
and roundifh, and its eyes fhine in the
night like thofe of a cat. The whole
body is covered with fur of a brownifh
fallow colour, and there are fome in the
more northern parts which are black ; the
Ikins of the latter are of much greater
value than the others. The tail is co-
vered with long hair, which makes it ap-
pear thicker than it really is. Its flefli
is fometimes eaten, but is not in any great
efteem.
The MUSQUASH, or MUSK-RAT,
is fo termed for the exquilite mufk which
it affords. It appears to be a diminutive
of the beaver, being endowed with all the
F f 4 proper-
[ 456 ]
properties of that fagacious animal, and
wants nothing but fize aiid flrength,
being not much bigger than a large rat of
the Norway breed, to rival the creature
it fo much refembles. Was it not for its
tail, which is exa6tly the fame as that of
an European rat, the ftru6lure of their
bodies is fo much alike, efpecially the
head, that it might be taken for a fmall
beaver. Like that creature it builds itfelf a
cabbin, but of a lefs perfect conftruclion,
and takes up its abode near the fide of
iomc piece of water. In the fpring they
leave their retreats, and in pairs fubfifl: on
leaves and roots till the fummer comes
on, when they feed on ftra wherries, raf-
berries, and fuch other fruits as they can
reach. At the approach of winter they
feparate, when each takes up its lodging
apart by itfelf in fome hollow of a tree,
where they remain quite unprovided with
food, and there is the greatefl reafon to
believe, fubfift without any till the re-
turn of fpring.
SQUIRRELS. There are five forts
of iquirrels in America ; the red, the
grey, the black, the variegated, and the
ilying. The tw^o former are exactly the
fame
[ 457 ]
fame as thofe of Europe ; the black arc
fomewhat larger, and differ from them
only in colour ; the variegated alfo re-
femble them in fhape and figure, but
are very beautiful, being finely ftriped
with white or grey, and fometimes with
red and black. The American flying
iquirrel is much lefs than the European,
being not above five inches long, and of
a ruflet grey or afh-colour on the back,
and white on the under parts. It has
black prominent eyes like thofe of the
moufe, with a long flat broad tail. By
a membrane on each fide which reaches
from its fore to its hind legs, this crea-
ture is enabled to leap from one tree to
another, even if they ft and a confiderable
diftance apart; this loofe fkin, which it
is enabled to flretch out like a fail, and
by which it is buoyed up, is about two
inches broad, and is covered with a fine
hair or down. It feeds upon the fame
provifions as the others, and is eafily
tamed
The BEAVER. This creature has
been fo often treated of, and his uncom-
mon abilities fo minutely defcrlbed, that
any further account of it will appear un-
neceflary ;
[ 458 3
neceflfary ; however for the benefit of thofe
of my readers who are not fo well ac-
quainted with the form and properties of
this fagacioiis and ufeful animal, I fhall
give a concife defcription of it. The
beaver is an amphibious quadruped, which
cannot live for any long time in the wa-
ter, and it is faid is even able to exift
entirely without it, provided it has the
convenience of fometimes bathing itfelf.
The largefl beavers are nearly four feet
in length, and about fourteen or fifteen
inches in breadth over the haunches ; they
weigh about fixty pounds. Its head is
like that of the otter, but larger ; its
fnout is pretty long, the eyes fmall, the
ears fhort, round, hairy on the outfide,
and fmooth within, and its teeth very
long ; the under teeth ftand out of their
mouths about the breadth of three fingers,
and the upper half a finger, all of which
are broad, crooked, ftrong, and fharp ;
befides thofe teeth called the incifors,
which grow double, are fet very deep in
their jaws, and bend like the edge of an
axe, they have fixteen grinders, eight on
each fide, four above and four below, di-
redly oppofite to each other. With the
former
[ 459 ' ]
former they are able to cut down trees
of a confiderable fize, with the latter to
break the hardeft fubftances. Its legs are
{hort, particularly the fore legs, which
are only four or five inches long, and not
unlike thofe of a badger ; the toes of the
fore feet are feparate, the nails placed ob*
liquely, and are hollow like quills ; but
the hind feet are quite different, and fur-
nifhed with membranes between the toes.
By this means it can walk, though but
flowly, and is able to fwim with as much
eafe as any other aquatic animal. The
tail has fomewhat in it that refembles a
fifh, and ieems to have no manner of re-
lation to the reft of the body, except the
hind feet, all the other parts being limi-
lar to thofe of land animals. The tail is
covered with a Ikin furnifhed with fcales,
that are joined together by a pellicle ;
thefe fcales are about the thicknefs of
parchment, nearly a line and a half in
length, and generally of a hexagonical
figure, having fix corners ; it is about
eleven or twelve inches in length, and
broader in the middle, where it is four
inches over, than either at the root or
the extremity. It is about two inches
thick
[ 46o ]
thick near the body, where it is almoft
round, and grows gradually thinner and
flatter to the end. The colour of the
beaver is different according to the diffe-
rent climates in which it is found. In the
moft northern parts they are generally
quite black ; in more temperate, brown ;
their colour becoming lighter and lighter
as they approach towards the fouth. The
fur is of two forts all over the body, except
at the feet, where it is very fliort ; that
which is the longeft is generally in length
about an inch, but on the back it fome-
times extends to two inches, gradually
dimanilhing towards the head and tail.
This part of the fur is harfh, coarfe, and
fhining, and of little ufe ; the other part
confifls of a very thick and fine down, fo
foft that it feels almoft like filk, about
three quarters of an inch in length, and is
what is commonly manufactured. Caf-
tor, which is ufeful in medicine, is pro-
duced from the body of this creature ; it
was formerly believed to be its teftlcles,
but later dlfcoveries have fhown that it is
contained in four bags fituated in the
lower belly. Two of which, that are
called the fupcrior from, their being more
elevated
[ 46i ]
elevated than the others, are filled with a
foft refinous adhefive matter, mixed with
fmall fibres, greyifh without, and yellow-
within, of a ftrong, difagreeable, and pe-
netrating fcent, and very inflammable.
This is the true caftoreum ; it hardens in
the air, and becomes brown, brittle, and
friable. The inferior bags contain an
unctuous liquor like honey ; the colour
of which is a pale yellow, and its odour
fomewhat different from the other, being
rather weaker and more difagreeable ; it
however thickens as it grows older, and
at length becomes about the confiflence of
tallow. This has alfo its particular ufe in
medicine, but it is not fo valuable as the
true caftoreum.
The ingenuity of thefe creatures in
building their cabbins, and in providing
for their fubfiflence, is truly wonderful.
When they are about to chufe themfelves
a habitation, they affemble in companies
fometimes of two or three hundred, and
after mature deliberation fix on a place
where plenty of provifions, and all necef-
faries are to be found. Their houfes are
always fituated in the water, and when
they can find neither lake nor pond ad-
jacent,
[ 4^2 J
jacent, they endeavour to fupply the de£e&.
by flopping the current of fome brook or
fmall river, by means of a caufeway or
dam. For this purpofe they fet about
felling of trees, and they take care to
chufe out thofe that grow above the place
where they intend to build, that they
might fwim down with the current. Hav-
ing fixed on thofe that are proper, three
or four beavers placing themfelves round
a large one, find means with their flrong
teeth to bring it down. They alfo pru-
dently contrive that it fhall fall towards
the w^ater, that they may have the lefs
way to carry it. After they have by a
continuance of the fame labour and in-
duftry, cut it into proper lengths, they
roll thefe into the water, and navigate
them towards the place where they are
to be employed. Without entering more
minutely into the meafures they purfue
in the conftrudion of their dams, I fhall
only remark, that having prepared a kind
of mortar with their feet, and laid it on
with their tails, which they had before
made ufe of to tranfport it to the place
where it is requifite, they conftrud: them
with as much folidity and regularity as
the-
[ 463 !
the moft experienced workmen could do.
The formation of their cabins is no lefs
amazing. Thefe are either built on piles in
the middle of the fmall lakes they have
thus formed, on the bank of a river, or
at the extremity of fome point of land
that advances into a lake. The figure of
them is round or oval, and they are fa-
Ihioned with an ingenuity equal to their
dams. Two thirds of the edifice ftands
above the water, and this part is fuffici-
ently capacious to contain eight or ten
inhabitants. Each beaver has his place,
affigned him, the floor of which he curi-
oufly flrews with leaves, or fmall branches
of the pine tree, fo as to render it clean
and comfortable ; and their cabbins are
all fituated fo contiguous to each other,
as to allow of an eafy communication.
The winter never furprizes thefe animals
before their bufinefs is completed ; for by
the latter end of September their houfes
are finifhed, and their flock of provlfions
are generally laid in. Thefe confift of
fmall pieces of wood whofe texture is foft,
fuch as the poplar, the afpin, or willow,
&c. which they lay up in piles, and dif-
pofe of in fuch manner as to preferve their
moifture.
[ 464- ]
molfture. Was I to enumerate every in-*
fiance of fagacity that is to be difcovered
in thefe animals, they would fill a vo
lume, and prove not only entertaining but
mftru6live.
The OTTER. This creature alfo is
amphibious, and greatly refembles a beaver,
but is very different from it in many re-
lpe6ts. Its body is nearly as long as a bea-
ver's, but confiderably lefs in all its parts.
The muzzle, eyes, and the form of the
head are nearly the fame, but the teeth are
very unlike, for the otter wants the large
incifors or nippers that a beaver has ; in-
ilead of thefe, all his teeth, without any
diftindion, are fliaped like thofe of a dog
or wolf. The hair alfo of the former is
not half fo long as that belonging to the
latter, nor is the colour of it exadly the
fame, for the hair of an otter under the
neck, ftomach, and belly, is more greyifh
tban that of a beaver, and in many other
refpefts it likewife varies. This animal,
which is met with in moft parts of the
world, but in much greater numbers ia
North America, is very mifchievous, and
when lie is clofely purfued, will not only
attack dogs but men. It generally feeds
upou
[ 4^5 ]
upon fifli, efpecially in the fummer, but
in the winter is contented with the bark
of trees, or the produce of the fields. Its
flefli both taftes and fmells of fifh, and Is
not wholfome food, though it is fome-
times eaten through neceffity.
The MINK is of the otter kind, and
fubfifts in the fame manner. In fhape
and fize it refembles a pole-cat, being
equally long and flender. Its fkin is
blacker than that of an otter, or almofl
any other creature ; '* as black as a mink,"
being a proverbial expreffion in America ;
it is not however fo valuable, though this
greatly depends on the feafon in which it
is taken. Its tail is round like that of a
fnake, but growing fiattiih towards the
end, and is entirely without hair. An
agreeable mulky fcent exhales from its
body; and it is met with near the fources
of rivers on whofe banks it chieflv lives.
Gg OF
[ 466 ]
OF THE BIRDS.
The Eagle, the Hawk, the Night
Hawk, the Filh Hawk, the Whipperwill,
the Raven, the Crow, the Owl, Parrots,
the Pelican, the Crane, the Stork, the
Cormorant, the Heron, the Swan, the
Goofe, Ducks, Teal, the Loon, the Water-
Hen, the Turkey, the Heath Cock, the
Partridge, the Qj-iail, Pigeons, the Snipe,
Larks, the Woodpecker, the Cuckoo, the
Blue Jay, the Swallow, the Wakon Bird,
the Black Bird, the Red Bird, the Thrufh,
theWhetfaw, the Nightingale, the King
Bird, the Robin, the Wren, and the Hum-
ming Bird.
The EAGLE. There are only two
forts of eagles in thefe parts, the bald and
the grey, which are much the lame in fize,
and limilar to the ihape of thofe of other
countries.
The NIGHT HAW^K. . This Bird is
of the hawk fpecies, its bill being crooked,
its wings formed for fwiftnefs, and its
Ihape nearly like that of the common
hawk ;
[ 4<57 ]
hawk; but in fize it is confiderabl)^ lefs,
and in colour rather darker. It is feared/"'
ever feen but in the evening, when, at
the approach of twilight, it files about,
and darts itfelf in wanton gambols at the
head- of the belated traveller. Before a
thunder-fliower thefe birds are feen at an
amazing height in the air affembled to-
gether in great numbers, as fwallows are
oblerved to do on the fame oeeafion.
The WHIPPERWILL, or, as it Is
termed by the Indians, the Muckawifs.
This extraordinary bird is fomewhat like
the laft-mentioned in its fhape and colour,
only ic has fome whitifh flripes acrofs the
wings, and like that is feldom ever feen.
till after fun-fet. It alfo is never met with
but during the fpring and fummer months.
As foon as the Indians are informed by its
notes of its return, they conclude that the
frofl is entirely gone,' in which they are
feldom deceived ; and on receiving this al-
furance of milder weather, begin to fow
their corn. It acquires its name by the
noife it makes, which to the people of the
colonies founds like the name they give it,
Whipper-wiil ; to an Indian ear Muck-a-
wifs. The words, it is true, are uot ahke,
G g 2 but
[ 468 ]
but in this manner they ftrike the imagi-
nation of each ; and the circumftance is a
proof that the fame founds, if they are not
rendered certain by being reduced to the
rules of orthography, might convey dif-
ferent ideas to different people. As foon
as night comes on, thefe birds will place
themfelves on the fences, flumps, or
flones that lie near fome houfe, and re-
peat their melancholy notes without any
variation till midnight. The Indians, and
fome of the inhabitants of the back fettle-
ments, think if this bird perches upon any
houfe, that it betokens fome mifliap to
the inhabitants of it.
The FISH HAWK greatly refembles
the latter in its fliape, and receives his
name from his food, which is generally
filh ; it Ikims over the lakes and rivers,
and fometimes feems to lie expanded on
the water, as he hovers fo clofe to it, and
having by fome attractive power drawn
the tilh within its reach, darts fuddenly
upon them. The charm it makes ufe of
is fuppofed to . be an oil contained in a
fmall bag in the body, and which nature
has by fome means or other fupplicd him
with the power of ufing for this purpofe ;
it
[ 469 3
it is however very certain that any bait
touched with a drop of the oil collected
from this bird is an irrefiftible lure for all
forts of filh, and infures the angler great
fuccefs.
The OWL. The only fort of owls
that is found on the banks of the Miffif-
iippi is extremely beautiful in its pluma.^e,
being of a fine deep yellow or gold co-
lour, pleafingly fhaded and fpotted.
The CRANE. There is a kind of
crane in taefe parts, which is called by
Father Hennepin a pelican, that is about
the iize of the European crane, of a grey-
ish colour, and witii long legs ; but thi?
fpecies differs from all others in its bill,
which is about twelve inches long, and
one inch and half broad, of which breadth
it continues to the end, where it is blunt-
ed, and round like a paddle ; its tongue
is of the fame length.
DUCKS, Among a variety of wild
ducks, the different fpecies of which
amount to upwards of twenty, I ihall
confine my defcri])tion to one fort, that
is, the wood duck, or, as the Frer.ca
term it. Canard branchus. This fowl re-
ceives its name from its frequenting the
G g 3 woods,.
[ 47° ]
woods, and perching on the branches of
trees, which no other kind of water fowl
(a chara6leriflic that this flilJ preferves) is
known to do. It is nearly of a fize with
other ducks; its plumage is beautifully
variegated, and very brilliant. The flefh
of it alfo, as it feeds but little on fifh, is
finely flavoured, and much luperior to
^ny other fort.
The TEAL. I have already remarked
in my Journal, that the teal found on the
Fox River, and the head branches of the
Miiiiflippi, are perhaps not to be equalled
for the fatnefs and delicacy of their fleili by
any other in the world. In colour, Ihape,
and fize they are very little different from
thofe found in other countries.
The LOON is a water fowl, fome-
what lels than a teal, and is a fpecies of
the dobchick. Its wings are (liort, and
its legs and feet large in proportion to the
body ; the colour of it is a dark brown,
nearly approaching to black ; and as it
feeds only on fifh, the rleili of it is very
ill-flavoured. Thefe birds are exceedingly
nimble and expert at diving, fo that it is
almofl impoflible for one perfon to ihoot
tjiern, as they will dextroufly avoid the
{hot
[ 471 ]
fhot by diving before they reach them; fb
that it requires three perfons to kill one
of them, and this can only be done the
moment it raifes his head out of the wa-
ter as it returns to the furface after div-
ing. It however only repays the trouble
taken to obtain it, by the excellent fport
it affords.
The PARTRIDGE. There are three
forts of partridges here, the brown, the
red, and the black, the firft of which are
moil: efteemed. They are all much larger
than the European partridges, being nearly
the lize of a hen phealant ; their head and
eyes are alfo like that bird, and they have
all long tails, which they fpread like a
fan, but not ered ; but contrary to the
cuftom of thofe in other countries, they
will perch on the branches of the poplar
and black birch, on the buds of which
they feed early in the morning^ and in the
tv^'illght of the evening during the winter
months, when they are ealily fhot.
The WOOD PIGEON, is nearly the
fame as ours, and there is fuch prodigious
quantities of them on the banks of the
Mifliffippi,that they will fometimes darken
the fun for feveral minutejs.
G g 4 The
[ 47^ ]
The WOODPECKER. This is a
very beautiful bird ; there is one fort
whofe feathers are a mixture of various
colours ; and another that is brown all
over the body, except the head and neck,
whicli are of a fine red. As this bird is
fuppofed to make a greater noiie than or-
dinary at particular times, it is conje£tured
his cries then denote rain.
The BLUE JAY, This bird is ihaped
nearly like the European jay, only that
its tail is longer. On the top of its head
is a crell: of blue feathers, which is raifed
or let down at pleafure. The lower part
of the neck behind, and the back, are of
a purphfli colour, and the upper fides of
the wings and tail, as well as the lower
part of the back and rump, are of a fine
blue ; the extremities of the wings are
blackiih, faintlv tinftured with dark blue
on the edges, whllfl the other parts of
the wing are barred acrofs with black in
an elegant manner. Upon the whole this
bird can {z^w-zcXy be exceeded in beauty by
any of the wineed iiihabitants of this or
Other climates. It has the fame jetting
motion that jays generally have, and itii
cry is far more pleafing.
The
[ 473 ]
The WAKON BIRD, as it is termed
by the Indians, appears to be of the fame
fpecies as the birds of paradife. The
name they have given it is expreffive of
its fuperior excellence, and the veneration
they have for it ; the wakon bird being
in their language the bird of the Great
Spirit. It is nearly the fize of a fwallow,
of a brown colour, fhaded about the neck
with a bright green ; the wings are of a
darker brown than the body ; its tail is
compofed of four or five feathers, which
are three times as long as its body, and
which are beautifully ihaded with green
and purple It carries this fine length of
plumage in the fame manner as a peacock
does, but it is not known whether it ever
raifes it into the ere(fl: pofition that bird
fometimesdoes. I never faw any of theie
birds in the colonies, but the Naudoweffie
Indians caught feveral of them when I
was in their country, and feemed to treat
them as if they were of a fuperior rank
to any other of the feathered race.
The BLACK BIRD. There are three
forts of birds in North America that bear
this name ; the firft is the common, or
as it is there termed, the crow blackbird,
which
[ 474 ]
which is quite black, and of the Tame
iize and ihape of thofe in Europe, but it
has not that melody in its notes which
they have. In the month of September
this fort fly in large flights, and do great
mifchief to the Indian corn, which is at
that time jufl ripe. The fecond fort is
the red-wing, which is rather fmaller
than the firfl ipecies, but like that it is
black all over its body, except on the
lower rim of the wings, where it is of a
fine bright full fcarlet. It builds itsneft,
and chiefly reforts among the fmall bufhes
that grow in meadows and low fwampy
places. It whiftles a few notes, but is
not equal in its fong to the European
blackbird. The third fort is of the fame
iize as the latter, and is jet black like that,
but all the upper part of the wing, jufi:
below the back, is of a fine clear white ;
as if nature intended to diverfify the fpe-
cies, and to atone for the want of a me-
lodious pipe by the beauty of its plumage;
for this alio is deficient in its mufical
powers. The beaks of every fort are of
a full yellow, and the females of each of
;irufl:y black like the European.
The
[ 475 ]
The RED BIRD is about the frze of
a fparrow, but with a long tail, and is
all over of a bright vermilion colour. I
law many of them about the Ottawaw
Lakes, but I could not learn that they
fung. I alfo obferved in fome other parts,
a bird of much the fame make, that was
entirely of a fine yellow.
The WHETSAW is of the cuckoo
kind, being like that, a folitary bird,
and fcarcely ever feen. In the fummer
months it is heard in the groves, where
it makes a noife like the filing of a faw ;
from which it receives its name.
The KING BIRD is like a fwallow,
and feems to be of the fame fpecies as
the black martin or Iwift. It is called
the King Bird becaufe it is able to mafter
almoft every bird that flies. I have often
feen it bring down a hawk.
The HUMMING BIRD. This beau.
tiful bird, which is the fmalleft of the
feathered inhabitants of the air, is about
the third part the fize of a wren, and is
Ihaped extremely like it. Its legs, which
are about an inch long, appear like two
fmall needles, and its body is proportion-
able to them, But its plumage exceeds
defcription.
[ 476 ]
dercriptlon. On its head it has a fmall
tuft of a jetty (hining black ; the breaft
of it is red, the belly white, the back,
wings, and tail of the fined pale green ;
and fmall fpecks of gold are fcattered
with inexpreflible grace over the whole :
befides this, an almoft imperceptible down
foftens the colours, and produces the
moll: pleafing fliades. With its bill,
which is of the fame diminutive (ize as
the other parts of its body, it extra6ts
from the flowers a moiflure which is its
nourifhment; over thefe it hovers like a
bee, but never lights on them, moving
at the fame time its wings with fuch ve-
locity that the motion of them is imper-
ceptible; notwithftanding which they
make a humming noife, from whence it
receives its name.
Of the FISHES which are found in
the waters of the MiJiffippL
I have already given a defcription of
thofe that are taken in the great lakes.
The Sturgeon, the Pout or Cat Fifh,
the Pike, the Carp, and the Chub.
The
[ 477 ]
The S T U R G E O N. The £re{h
water ftnrgeon is fhaped in no other
refpe<£l like thofe taken near the fea, ex-
cept in the formation of its head and
tail ; which are fafhioned in the fame
manner, but the body is not fo anga-
lated, nor are there fo many horny fcales
about it as on the latter. Its length is
generally about two feet and a half or
three feet long, but in circumference not
proportionable, being a {lender fifh. The
flefh is exceedingly delicate and finely fla-
voured ; 1 caught fome in the head waters
of the river St. Croix that far exceeded
trout. The manner of taking them is
by watching them as they lie under
the banks in a clear ilream, and darting
at them with a filh-fpear ; for they will
not take a bait. There is alfo in the
Miffiffippi, and there only, another fort
than the fpecies I have defcribed, which
is fimilar to it in every refpe^l, except
that the upper jaw extends fourteen or
fifteen inches beyond the under ; this ex-
tenlive jaw, which is of a griflly fubftance,
is three inches and half broad, and continues
of that breadth, fomewhatin the fbape of
an oar, to the end, which is flat. Tlie
flefh
[ 478 ]
fleili of this filli, however, is not to
be compared with the other fort, and
is not fo much efleemed even by the
Indians.
The CAT FJSH. This fiih Is about
eighteen inches long ; of a brownifii co-
lour and without fcales. It has a large
round head, from whence it receives its
name, on different parts of which grow
three or four flrong fharp horns about two
inches long. Its fins are alfo very bony
and flrong, and without great care will
pierce the hands of thofe who take them.
It weighs commonly about five or fix
pounds ; the flefh of it is exceflively fat
and lufcious, and greatly refembles that of
an eel in its flavour.
The CARP and CHUB are much the
fame as thofe in England, and nearly
about the fame in fize.
OF SERPENTS.
T-he Rattle Snake, the Long Black
Snake, the Wall or Houfe Adder, the
Striped or Garter Snake, the Water
S'aake, the HilFing Snake, the Green
Snake,
[ 479 ]
Snake, the Thorn-tail Snake, the Speck-
led Snake, the Ring Snake, the Two*
headed Snake.
The RATTLE SNAKE. There ap-
pears to be two fpccies of this reptile ;
one of which is commonly termed the
Black, and the other the Yellow ; and of
thefe the latter is generally confidered as
the largeft. At their full growth they
are upwards of five feet long, and th&
middle part of the body at which it is of
the greateft bulk, meafures about nine-
inches round. From that part it gradu-
ally decreafes both towards the head and
the taiL The neck is proportionabiy very
fmall, and the head broad and deprefled.
Thefe are of a light brown colour, the;
iris of the eye red, and all the upper part
of the body brown, mixed with a ruddy-
yellow, and chequered with many regular
lines of a deep black, gradually fliading
towards a gold colour. In ihort the
whole of this dangerous reptile is very
beautiful, and could it be viewed with
lefs terror, fuch a variegated arrange-
ment of colours would be extrernely
pleafing. But thefe are only to bs fQcn.
I in
[ 48o J
in their higheft pcrfe6lIoii at the time this
creature is animated by refentment ; then
every tint ruflies from its fubcutaneous
recefs, and gives the furface of the (kin
a deeper (lain. The belly is of a palifh
blue, which grows fuller as it approaches
the fides, and is at length intermixed
with the colour of the upper part. The
rattle at its tail, from which it receives
its name, is compofed of a firm, dry,
callous, or horny fubftance of a light
brown, and confifi:s of a number of cells
which articulate one within another like
joints ; and which increafe every year
and make known the age of the creature.
Thefe articulations being very loofe, the
included points ilrike againfi: the inner
furface of the concave parts or rings into
which they are admitted, and as the
fnake vibrates or fhakes its tail, makes a
rattling noife. This alarm it always gives
when it is apprehenfive of danger ; and in
an inftant after forms itfelf into a fpiral
wreath, in the centre of which appears the
head eredt, and breathing forth vengeance
againfi either man or beafi: that fhall dare
to come near it. In this attitude he awaits
the
[-481 ]
the approach of his enemies, rattling his
tail as he fees or hears them coming on.
By this timely intimation, which hea-
ven ieems to have provided as a means
to countera6: the mifchief this venomous
reptile would otherwife be the perpe-
trator of, the unwary traveller is appriz-
ed of his danger, and has an opportu-
nity of avoiding it. It is however to be
ohferved, that it never a(5ls offeniively ;
it neither purfues or flies from any thing
that approaches it, but lies in the pofition
defcribed, rattling his tail as if relu6lant
to hurt. The teeth with which this fer-
pent effects his poifonous purpofes are not
thofe he makes ufe of on ordinary oc-
calions, they are only two in number,
very fmall and fharp pointed, and fixed -
in a finewy fubftance that lies near the
extremity of the upper jaw, refembling
the claws of a cat ; at the root of each
of thefe, wi:iich might be extended, con-
tracted, or entirely hidden, as need re- <
quires, are two fmall bladders which na-
ture has fo conftruCled, that at the fame
inftant an incifion is made by the teeth,
a drop of a greenilh poifonous liquid en-
ters the wound, and taints with its de-
li h flrudlive
[ 48z ]
ilru^live quality the whole mafs of blood*
In a moment the unfortunate vi6:uii of its
wrath feels a chilly tremor run through
all his frame; a fwelling immediately be-
gins on the fpot where the teeth had en-
tered, which fp reads by degrees over the
whole body, and produces on every part
of the Ikin the variegated hue of the
fnake. The bite of this reptile is more
or lefs venomous according to the feafon
of the year in which it is given. In the
dog-days, it often proves inftantly mor-
tal, and efpecially if the wound is made
among the iinews fituated in the back-
part of the leg above the heel ; but in
the fpring, in autumn, or during a cool
day which might happen in the fummer,
its bad effects are to be prevented by the
immediate application of proper remedies ;
and thefe Providence has bounteoufly fup-
plied, by caufmg the RaLtle Snake Plan-
tain, an approved antidote to the poifon
of this creature, to grow in great pro-
fuiion where-ever they are to be met
with. There are likewife feveral other
remedies beiides this, for the venom of its
bite. A decoclion made of the buds or
bark of the white alh taken internally
prevents
[ 483 ]
prevents it pernicious effe(fls. Salt is a
newly difcovered remedy, and if applied
immediately to the part, or the wound be
wafhed with brine, a cure might be af-
fured. The fat of the reptile alfo rubbed
on it is frequently found to be very effica-
cious. But though the lives of the per-
fons who have been bitten might be pre-
ferved by thefe, and their health in fome
degree reftored, yet they annually expe-
rience a flight return of the dreadful fymp-
toms about the time they received the in-
ftillation. However remarkable it may
appear it is certain, that though the ve-
nom of this creature affedls in a greater or
lefs degree all animated nature, the hog
is an exception to the rule, as that animal
will readily deftroy them without dread-
ing their poifonous fangs, and fatten on
their flefh. It has been often obferved,
and I can confirm the obfervation, that
the Rattle Snake is charmed with any
harmonious lounds, whether vocal or in-
ftrumental ; I have many times feen them
even when they have been enraged, place
themfelves in a iidiening pofture, and
continue immoveably attentive and fu^f-*
ceptible of delight all the time the mutick
K h 2 has
[ 484 ]
has lafted. I fhould have remarked, that
when the Rattle Snake bites, it drops
its under jaw, and holding the upper jaw
ere6l, throws itfelf in a curve line, with
great force, and as quick as lightning, on
the object of its refentment. In a mo-
ment after, it returns again to its defen-
five pofture, having difengaged its teeth
from the wound with great celerity, by
ineans pf the pofition in which it had
placed its head when it made the attack.
It never extends itfelf to a greater diftance
than half its length will reach, and though
it fometimes repeats the blow two or three
times, it as often returns with a fuden re-
bound to its former ftate. The Black
Rattle Snake differs in no other refpe6l from
the yellow, than in being rather fmaller,
and in the variegation of its colours, which
are exactly reverfed : one is black where
the other is yellow, and vice verfa. They
are equally venomous. It is not known
how thele creatures engender ; I have
often found the eggs of feveral other fpe-
cies of the fnake, but notwithftandlng no
one has taken more pains to acquire a per-
fedi. knowledge of every property of thefe
reptiles than myfelf, I iiever could dif-
s cover
[ 485 ] -
cover the manner in which they hring
forth their young. I once killed a fe-
male that had feventy young ones in its
belly, but thele were perfectly formed, and
I faw them juft before retire to the mouth
of their mother, as a place of fecurity, on
my approach. The gall of this ferpent,
mixed with chalk, are formed into little
balls, and exported from America, for me-
dicinal purpofes. They are of the nature
ofGafcoign's powders, and are an excellent
remedy for complaints incident to children.
The flefh of the fnake alfo dried, and made
into broth, is much more nutritive than
that of vipers, and very efficacious againft
confumptions.
The LONG BLACK SNAKE. Thefe
are alio of two forts, both of which are
exactly limilar in fliape and fize, only the
belly of one is a light red, the other a
faint blue ; all the upper parts of their bo-
dies are black and fcaly. They are in
general from fix to eight feet in length,
and carry their heads, as they crawl along,
about a foot and an half from the ground.
They eafily climb the higheft trees in
purluit of birds and fqulrrels, which are
their chief food ; and thefe, it is faid,
H li 3 they
[ 4^6 ]
tliey charm by their looks, and render hi-?
capable of efcaping from them. Theii;
appearance carries terror with it to thofe
who are unacquainted with their inability
to hurt, but they are perfcdtly inofFenfive
and free from venom.
The STRlPEDor GARTER SNAKE
1$ exattly the fame as that fpecies found in
other climates.
The WATER SNAKE is much like
the Rattle Snake in fliape and fize, but is
not endov\ ed with the fame venomous
powers, being quite harmlefs.
The HISSING SNAKE 1 have al-
ready particularly defcribed, when I treat-
ed, in my Journal, of Lake Erie.
The GREEN SNAKE is about a foot
and an half long, and in colour fo near to
grafs and herbs, that it cannot be difcovered
as it lies on the ground ; happily however
it is free from venom, otherwife it would
do an infinite deal of mifchief, as thofe
who pafs through the meadows, not being
able to perceive it, are deprived of the
power of avoiding it.
The THORN-TAIL SNAKE. This
reptile is found in many parts of America,
but it is very feldom, to be feen. It is of
a middle
[ 487 ]
a middle fize, and receives its name from a
thorn-like dart in its tail, with which it
is fliid to infli£l a mortal wound.
The SPECKLED SNAKE is an aque-
ous reptile ahout two feet and an half in
length, but without venom. Its fkin, which
is brown and white with feme fpots of yel-
low in it, is ufed by the Americans as a
cover for the handles of whips, and it
renders them very pleafing to the ligiit.
The RING SNAKE is about twelve
inches long ; the body of it is entirely
black, except a yellow ring which it has
about its neck, and which appears like a
narrow piece of riband tied around it. This
odd reptile is frequently found in the bark
of trees, and among old logs.
The TWO-HEADED SNAKE. The
only fnake of this kind that was ever feea
in America, was found about the year
1762, near Lake Champlain, by Mr. Park,
a gentleman of New England, and made a
prefent to lord Amherfl. It was about a,
foot long, and in fhape like the common
fnake, but it was furnifhed with two
heads exadly limilar, which united at the
neck. Whether this was a diftinct fpecies
of fnakes, and was able to propagate its
H h 4 likenefs,
[ +88 ]
likenefs, or whether it was an accidental
formation, I know not.
The TORTOISE or LAND TUR-
TLE. The fhape of this creature is {o
well known that it is unneceffary to de-
fcribe it. There are feven or eight forts
of them in America, fome of which are
beautifully variegated, even beyond defcrip-
tion. The fhells of many have fpots of
red, green, and yellow in them, and the
chequer work is compofed of fmall fquares,
curioufly difpofed. The moll; beautiful fort
of thefe creatures are the fmalleft, and the
bite of them is faid to be venomous.
LIZARDS, &c.
Though there are numerous kinds of
this clafs of the animal creation in the
country I treat of, I ihall only take notice
of two of them ; which are termed the
Swift and the Slow Lizard.
The SWIFT LIZARD is about fix
inches long, and has four legs and a tail.
Its body, which is blue, is prettily ftriped
with dark lines fhaded with yellow ; but
the end of the tail is totally blue. It is
fo
t 489 3
fb remarkably agile that in an inftaii't it
is out of light, nor can its movement be
perceived by the quickeft eye : fo that it
might more juftiy be faid to vanifh, than
to run away. This fpecies are fuppofed
to poifon thofe they bite, but are not dan-
gerous, as they never attack perfons that
approach them, chufing rather to get fud-
denly out of their reach.
The SLOW LIZARD is of the fame
ihape as the Swift, but its colour is brown ;
it is moreover of an oppofite dilpolition,
being altogether as flow in its move-
ments as the other is fwift. It is remark-
able that thefe lizards are extremely brittle,
and will break off near the tail as ealily as
an icicle.
Among the reptiles of North America
there is a fpecies of the toad termed the
TREE TOAD, which is nearly of the
fame fhape as the common fort, but fmaller
and with longer claws. It is ufually
found on trees, flicking clofe to the bark,
or lying in the crevices of it ; and fo
nearly does it refemble the colour of the
tree to which it cleaves, that it is with
difficulty diftinguilhed from it. Thefe
creatures are only heard during the twi-
j light
[ 49^ ]
light of the morning and evening, or juft
before and after a fhower of rain, when
they make a croaking noife fomewhat
fhriiler than that of a frog, which might
be heard to a great diftance. They infeft
the woods in liich numbers, that their re-
Iponfive notes at thefe times make the air
refound. It is only a fummer animal,
and never to be found during the winter.
INSECTS.
The interior parts of North America
abound with nearly the fame infe<5ts as are
met with in the fame parallels of latitude ;
and the fpecies of them are fo numerous
and diverfified that even a fuccindl defcrip-
tion of the whole of them would fill a
volume; I fhall therefore confine myfelf
to a few, which I beHeve are almoft pe-
culiar to this country ; the Silk Worm,
the Tobacco Worm, the Bee, the Light-
ning Bug, the Water Bug, and the Horn-
ed Bug.
The SILK WORM is nearly the fame
as thofe of France and Italy, but will not
produce the fame quantity of filk.
The
[49^]
, The TOBACCO WORM is a cater^
pillar of the fize and figure of a filk worm,
it is of a fine fea-green colour, on its rump
it has a fting or horn near a quarter of aa
inch long.
The BEES, in America, principally
lodge their honey in the earth to fecure it
from the ravages of the bears, who are re-
marl^ably fond of it.
The LIGHTNING BUG or FIRE
FLY is about the fize of a bee, but it is
of the beetle kind, having like that in-
fedt two pair of wings, the upper of
which are of a firm texture, to defend it
from danger. When it flies, and the
wings are expanded, there is under thefe a
kind of coat, confl:ru6led alfo like wings,
V which is luminous ; and as the infect
paffes on, caufes all the hinder part of its
body to appear like a bright fiery coal.
Having placed one of them on your hand,
the under part only Ihines, and throws
the light on the fpace beneath ; but as
foon as it fp reads its upper wings to fly
away, the whole body which lies behind
them appears illuminated all around. The
light it gives is not conftantly of the fame
pagnitgjde, eyen when it flies ; but feems
to
[ 49^ ]
to depend on the expanfioii or contraction
of the luminous coat or wings, and is-
very different from that emitted in a dark ^
night by dry wood or fortie kinds of
fifh, it having much more the appear-
ance of real fire. They feem to be fen-
fible of the power they are^ pofllfled of,
and to know the liioft fuitable time for
exerting it, as in a very dark night they
are much more numerous than at any
other time. They are only feen during
the fummer months of June, July, and
Auguft, and then at no other time but
in the night. Whether from their co-
lour, which is a dufky brown, they
are not then difcernible, or from their
retiring to holes and crevicfes, I know
liot, but they are never to be difcovered ill
the day. They chiefly are feen in low
fwampy land, and appear like innumer-
able tranfient gleams of light. In dark
nights when there is much lightning,
without rain, they feem as if they wiHied
either to imitate or afTifl: the fl.a(hes ; for
during the intervals, they are uncom-
monly agile, and endeavour to throw out
every ray they can colled. Notwith-
ilanding this effulgent appearance, thefe
infers
t 493 ]
iiife^ls are perfedly harmlefs ; you may per-»
mit them to crawl upon your hand, when
five or fix, if they freely exhibit their glow
together, will enable you to read almoft
the fmallefl print.
The WATER BUG is of a brown
colour, about the fize of a pea, and in
Ihape nearly oval : it has many legs,
by means of which it pafTes over the fur-
face of the water with fuch incredible;
fwiftnefs that it feems to Aide or dart it-
felf along.
The HORNED BUG, or, as it is
fometimes termed, the STAG BEETLE,
is of a dulky brown colour nearly ap-
proaching to black, about an inch and an
lialf long, and half an inch broad. It
has two large horns, which grow on each
iideof the head, and meet horizontailyj
and with thefe it pinches very hard; they
are branched like thofe of a flag, from
whence it receives its name. They fly
about in the evening, and prove very
troublefome to thofe who are in the fields
at that time.
I mud not omit that the LXDCUST
is a feptennial infe(5l, as they are only
feen, a fmall number of flragglers ex*
cepted,
[ 494 ]
cepted, every feven years, when they in=-
feft thefe parts and the interior eolonies
in large fwarms, and do a great deal of
mifchief. The years when they thus ar-
rive are denominated the locuft years.
CHAPTER XIX.
Of the Trees, Shrubs, Roots, Herbs,
Flowers ^c,
I SHALL here obferve the fame me-
thod that I have purfued in the pre^
ceding chapter, and having given a lift
of the trees, &c. which are natives of the
interior parts of North America, particu-
larize fuch only as differ from the pro-
duce of other countries, or, being little
known, have not been defcribed.
OF TREES.
The Oak, the Pine Tree, the Maple,
the Alh, the Hemlock, the Bafs or
White Wood, the Cedar, the Elm, the
Bircii, the Fir, the Locuft Tree, the
Poplar,
[ 495 ]
Poplar, the Wickopic or Suckwic, the
Spruce, the Hornbeam, and the Button
Wood Tree.
The OAK. There are feveral forts of
oaks in thefe parts ; the black, the white,
the red, the yellow, the grey, the fwamp
oak, and the chefnut oak : the five for-
mer vary but little in their external ap-
pearance, the fhape of the leaves, and the
colour of the bark being fo much alike,
that they are fcarcely diftinguifhable ; but
the body" of the tree when fa wed difco-
vers the variation, which chiefly confifts
in* the colour of the wood, they being
all very hard and proper for building.
The fwamp oak differs materially from
the others both in the (hape of the leaf,
which is fmaller, and in the bark, which
is fmoother ; and likewife as it grows
only in a moid gravelly foil. It is
efleemed the toughefl of all woods, being
fo ftrong yet pliable, that it is often
made ufe of inflead of whalebone, and is
equally ferviceable. The chefnut oak alfo
is greatly different from the others, par-
ticularly in the fhape of the leaf, which
much refembles that of the chefnut-tree,
and
[ 496 ]
and for this reafon it is fo denominated.
It is neither fo ftrong as the former Ipe-
cies, or fo tough as the latter, but is of a
nature proper to be fplit into rails for
fences, in which flate it will endure acon-
liderable time.
The PINE TREE. That fpecies of
the pine tree peculiar to this part of the
continent is the white, the quality of which
I need not defcribe, as the timber of it is (6
well known under the name of deals. It
grows here in great plenty, to an amazing
height and fize, and yields an excellent tur-
pentine, though not in fuch quantities as
thofe in the northern parts of Europe.
The MAPLE. Of this tree there are
two forts, the hard and the foft, both
of which yield a lufcious juice, from
which the Indians by boiling make very
good fugar. The fap of the former is
much richer and fvveeter than the latter,
but the foft produces a greater quantity.
The wood of the hard maple is very
beautifully veined and curled, and when
wrought into cabinets, tables, gunftocks,
&c. is greatly valued. That of the foft
fort differs in its texture, wanting the
variegated grain of the hard ; it alfo
grows
f 497 ]
grows more ftrait arid free from branches,
and is more eafily fplit. It likewife may
be diftinguiilied from the hard, as this
grows in meadows and low-lands, that on
the hills and up-lands. The leaves are
(hapcd alike, but thofe of the foft maple
are much the largefl, and of a deeper
green.
The ASH. There are feveral forts of
this tree in thefe parts, but that to which
I ihall confine my defcription, is the yel-
low a(h, which is only found near the
head branches of the Miffiffippi. This
tree grows to an amazing height, and the
bodv of it is {o firm and found, that the
French traders who go into that country
from Louliiana to purchafe furs make of
them periaguays ; this they do by ex-
cavating them by fire, and when they
are completed, convey in them the pro-
duce of their trade to New Orleans, where
they find a good market both for their
veflels and cargoes. The wood of this
tree greatly refembles that of the common
afh, but it might be diflinguifhed from
any other tree by its bark ; the rofs or
outlide bark being near eight inches thick,
and indented with furrows more than fix
I i inches
[ 498 ]
inches deep, which make thofe that ard
arrived to a great bulk appear uncom-
monly rough ; and by this peculiarity
they may be readily known. The rind
or infide bark is of the lame thicknefs as
that of other trees, but its colour is a fine
bright yellow ; inlbmuch that if it is but
nightly handled, it will leave a ftain on
the lingers, which cannot eafily be
walhed away ; and if in the fpring you
peel off the bark, and touch the fap,
which then rifes between that and the
body of the tree, it will leave fo deep a
tincture that it will reqtiire three or four
days to wear it off. Many uleful quali-
ties belonging to this tree I doubt not
will be dilcovered in time, befides its
proving a valuable acquiiition to the
dyer.
The HEMLOCK TREE grows in
every part of America in a greater or lefs
degree. It is an ever-green of a very
large growth, and has leaves fomewhat
like that of the yew; it is however quite
ufelefs, and only an incumh.nnce to the
groin id, the v/ood being of a very coarfe
grain, and full of winu-lhakcs or cracks.
The
[ 499 ]
The BASS or WHITE WOOD is a
tree of a middling lize, and the whiteft
and fofteft wood that grows ; when quite
dry it fwims orl the water like a cork : in
the fettlements the turners make of it
bowls, trenchers, and diflies^ which wear
fmooth, and will lafl a long time ; but
when applied to Any other purpofe it is
far from durable.
The WiCKOPICK or SUCKWICK
iippears to be a fpecies of the white wood,
and is diftinguifhed from it by a peculiar
quality in the bark, which when pounded
and moiflened with a little water, in-
ftantly becomes a matter of the confift-
ence and nature of lize. With this the
Indians pay their canoes, and it greatly
exceeds pitch or any other material ufu-
ally app.opriated to that purpofe ; for be-
fides its adhefive quality, it is of fo oily
a nature, that the water cannot penetrate
through it, and its repelling power abates
not tor a confiderable time.
The BUTTON WOOD is a tree of the
largefl (ize, and might be diftinguiihed
by its bark, which is quite fmooth and
prettily mottled. The wood is very pro-
per for the ufe of cabinet-makers. It is
I i 2 covered
[ 5^o ]
covered with fmall hard burs which
fpring from the branches, that appear not
unhke buttons, and from thefe I believe
it receives its name.
NUT TREES.
The Butter or Oil Nut, the Wahiut,
the Hazle Nut, the Beech Nut, the Pecan
Nut, the Chefnut, the Hickory.
The BUTTER or OIL NUT. As
no mention has been made by any authors
of this nut, I Ihall be the more particu-
lar in my account of it. The tree grows
in meadows where the foil is rich and
warm. The body of it feldom exceeds a
yard in circumference, is full of branches,
the twigs of which are fhort and blunt,
and its leaves refemble thofe of the walnut.
The nut has a fhell like that fruit, which
when ripe is more furrowed, and more
eafily cracked ; it is alfo much longer
and larger than a walnut, and contains a
greater quantity of kernel, which is very
oily, and of a rich agreeable flavour. I am
perfuaded that a much purer oil than that
of
- [ 5°i ]
of olives might be extra6led from this nut.
The infide bark of this tree dyes a good
purple ; and it is faid, varies in its fliade,
being either darker or lighter according to
the month in which it is gathered.
The BEECH NUT. Though this tree
grows exactly like that of the fame name
in Europe, yet it produces nuts equally
as good as chenfuts ; on which bears,
martins, fquirrels, partridges, turkies,
and many other beads and birds feed.
The nut is contained, whilil: growing, in
an outfide cafe like that of a chefnut, but
not fo prickly; and the coat of the inlide
fhell is alfo fmooth like that ; only Its
form is neai'ly triangular. Vail quanti-
ties of them lie fcattered about in the
woods, and fupply with food great num-
bers of the creatures jufl mentioned. The
leaves, which are white, continue on the
trees during the whole winter. A decoc-
tion made of them is a certain and expe-
ditious cure for wounds which arlfe from
burning or fcaldlng, as well as a relforatlve
for thofe members that are nipped by the
froft.
The PECAN NUT Is fomewhat of the
walnut kind, but rather linaller than a
I i J walnut j^
[ 1^2 ]
Tvalnut, being about the iize of a mid-
dling acorn, and of an oval form ; the
fhell is eafily cracked, and the kernel
Ihaped like that of a walnut. This tree
grows chiefly near the Illinois river.
The HICKORY is alfo of the walnut
kind, and bears a fruit nearly like that
pee. There are feveral forts of them,
which vary only in the colour of the
wood. Being of a very tough nature, the
wood is generally ufed for the handles of
axes, &c. It is alfo very good fire-
wood, and as it burns an excellent fugar
diftills from it.
FRUIT TREES,
I need not to obferve that thefe are all
the ipontaneous productions of nature,
which have never received the advantages
of ingrafting, tranfplanting, or manur-
The Vine, the Mulberry Tree, the
prab Apple Tree, the Plum Tree, the
C'lerry Tree, and the Sweet Gum Tree,
The
[ 5<'3 ]
The VINE is very common here, and
of three khids ; the firfl: fort hardly de-
serves the name of a grape; the fecond
much refembles the Burgvindy grape, and
if expofed to the fun a good wine might
be made from them. The third foit re-
fembles Zant currants, which are fo fre-
quently ufed in cakes, &c. in England,
and if proper care was taken of tliem,
would be equal, if not fuperior, to thofe
jof that country.
The MULBERRY TREE is of two
^inds, red and white, and nearly of the
fame fize of thofe of France and Italy,
and grow in fuch plenty, as to feed any
quantity of filk worms.
The CRAB APPLE TREE bears a
fruit that is much larger and better fla-
voured than thofe of Europe.
The PLUM TREE. There are two
forts of plums in this country, one a
large fort of a purple caft on one lide, and
red on the reverfe, the fecond totally
green, and m.uch fmaller. Both theie are
of a good flavour, and are greatly ef-
teemed by the Indians, whole tafte is
not refined, but who are fatisfied with the
i i 4 pro-
[ 5^4 J
produdions of nature in their unimproved
ftate.
The CHERRY TREE. There are
three forts of cherries in this country ; the^
b]ack, the red, and the fand cherry ; the
two latter may with more propriety be
ranked among the fhrubs, as the bufli
that bears the fand cherries ahiioft creeps
along the ground, and the other rifes not
above eight or ten feet in height ; how-
ever J fliallgive an account of them all in
this place. The black cherries are about
the lize of a currant, and hang in cluf-
tcrs like grapes ; the trees which bear them
being very fruitful, they are generally
loaded, but the fruit is not good to ea^,
however they give an agreeable flavour to
brandy, and turn it to the colour of cla-
ret. The red cherries grow in the
greateft profufion, and hang in bunches
like the black fort jufl delcribed ; lb that
the bufhes which bear them appear at a
diftcince like fblid bodies of red matter.
Some people adipire this fruit, but they
partake of the nature and tafte of alum,
leaving a diiagreeable roughnefs in the
throat, and being very aflringent. As I
have already defcribed tlie fand cherries,
which
[ SOS ]
which greatly exceed the two other forts
both in flavour and fize, I fhall give no
further defcriptlon of them. The wood
of the black cherry-tree is very ufeful,
and works well into cabinet ware.
The SWEET GUM TREE or LI-
QUID AMBER (Copalm) is not only
extremely common, but it affords a balm,
the virtues of which are infinite. Its bark
is black and hard, and its wood fo tender
and fupple, that when the tree is felled,
you may draw from the middle of it
rods of five or fix feet in length. It can-
not be employed in building or furniture,
as it warps continually. Its leaf is in-
dented with five points like a flar. This
jbalm is reckoned by the Indians to be an
excellent febrifuge, and it cures wounds
III two or three days.
5HRUBS.
The Willow, Shin Wood, Shumack,
Safiafras, the Prickly Afh, Moofe Wood,
Spoon Wood, Large Elder, Dwarf Elder,
Foifpnous Elder, Juniper, Shrub Oak,
Sweet Fern, the Laure], the Witch Ha-
zle,
[ 5o6 ]
zie, the Myrtle Wax Tree, Wintei?
Green, the Fever Bufh, the Cranberry
Buih, the Goofberry Bufh, the Currant
Bufh, the Whirtle Berry, the Rafberry,
the Black Berry, and the Choak Berry.
The WILLOW, There are feveral
fpecies of the willow, the moil: remarka-
ble of which is a fmall fort that grows ori
the banks of the Mifliffippi, and fome
other places adjacent. The bark of this
Ihrub fupplies the beaver with its winter
food ; and where the water has wafhed
the foil from its roots, they appear to
jconfift of fibres interwovTU together like
thread, the colour of which is of an in-
expreflibly fine fcariet ; with this the In^
dians tinge many of the ornamental parts
of their drefs. -
SHIN WOOD. This extraordinary
fhrub grows in the forefls, and rifing like
a vine, runs near the ground for fix or
eight feet, and then takes root again ; in
the fame manner taking root, and fpring-
ing- up iuccefiiyely, one flalk covers a large
ipace; this proves very troublefome to
the hafty traveller, by ftriking againft
his
[ 5° 7 1
his fhlns, and entangling his legs ; froin
which it has acquired its name.
The SASSAFRAS is a wood well
kown for its medicinal qualities. It
might with equal propriety be termed a
tree as a fhrub, as it fometimes grows
thirty feet high ; but in general it do^5
not reach higher than thofe of the fhrub
kind. The leaves, which yield an agree-
able fragrance, are large, and yearly Sepa-
rated into three divilions. It bears a red-
(difh brown berry of the fize and fhape of
Pimento, and which is fometimes ufjd in
the colonies as a llibftitute for that fpice*
The bark or roots of this tree is infinitely
fuperior to the wood for its ufe in medi-
pine, and I am furprized it is fo feldom
to be met with, as its efficacy is fo much
greater.
' The PRICKLY ASH is a flirub that
fometimes grows to the height of ten or
fifteen feet, and has a le^f exa6lly refem-
bling that of an afh, but it receives the
epithet tq its name from the abundance
of fhort thorns with which every branch
is covered, and which renders it very
troublefome to thofe who pafs through the
ipot where they grow thick. It alfo bears
a fcarlct
E 508 ]
ft fcarlet berry, wliich when ripe, has a
fiery tafte like pepper. The b?.' k of this
tree, particularly the bark of the roots,
is highly efleemed by the natives for its
medicinal qualiti'.s. I have already men-
tioned one inftance of its efficacy, and
there is no doubt but that the decodion of
it will expeditioufly and radically remove
all impurities of the blood.
The MOOSE WOOD grows about
four feet high, and is very full of branches ;
but what renders it worth notice is its
bark, which is of fo flrong and pliable
a texture, that being peeled off at any
fcafon, and twifled, makes equally as
good cordage as hemp.
The SPOON WOOD is a fpecles of
the laurel, and the wood when fawed re-
fcmbles box wood.
The ELDER, commonly termed the
poifonous elder, nearly refembles the other
forts in its leaves and branches, but it
grows much flraiter, and is only found
in fwamps and moift foils. This fhrub
is endowed with a very extraordinary
quality, that renders it poifonous to fome
conflitutions, which it effects if the per-
fon only approaches within a few yards
of
[ 509 ]
of it, whlljfl: others may even chew
the leaves or the rind without receiving
the leaft detriment from them : the poifon
however is not mortal, though it operates
very violently on the infeifted perfon,
whofe body and head fvvell to an amazing
lize, and are covered with eruptions, that
at their height refemble the confluent
Imall-pox. As it grows alfb in many of
the provinces, the inhabitants cure its
venom by drinking fafFron tea, and anoint-
ing the external parts with a mixture com-
pofed of cream and marfh mallows.
The SHRUB OAK is exadly fimilar
to the oak tree, both in its wood and
leaves, and like that it bears an acorn, but
it never rifes from the ground above four or
five feet, growing crooked and knotty. It
is found chiefly on a dry gravelly foil.
The WITCH HAZLE grows very
bufliy, about ten feet high, and is covered
early in' May with numerous white blof-
foms. When this fhrub is in bloom, the
Indians efteem it a further indication that
the froft is entirely gone, and that they
jnight fow their corn. It has been faid,
that it is poflefled of the power of attrading
gold or filver, and that twigs of it are made
ufe
[ 5IO 1
life of todifcover where the veins of thefe
metals lie hid; but I am apprehenfive that
this is only a fallacious flory, and not to
be depended on ; however that fiippofitioii
has given it the name of Witch Hazle.
The MYRTLE WAX TREE is a
fhrub about four or five feet high, the
leaves of which are larger than thofe of
the common myrtle, but they fmell ex-
a£lly alike. It bears its fruit in bunches
like a nofegay, rifing from the fame place
in various ftalks about two inches long ;
at the end of each of thefe is a little nut
containing a kernel, which is wholly co-
vered with a gluey fubftance^ which being
boiled in w^ater, fwimson the furface of it,
and becomes a kind of green wax ; this is
more valuable than bees-wax, being of a
more brittle nature, but mixed with it
makes a good candle, which as it burns
fends forth an agreeable fcent.
WINTER GREEN. This is an
ever-green of the fpecies of the myrtle,
and is found on dry heaths ; the flowers
of it are white, and in the form of a rofe,
but not larger than a filvcr penny ; in
the winter it is full of red berries about
the fize of a floe, which are fmooth and
q round ;
_ t 511 1
round ; thefe are prcfcrved during the
fevere feafon by the fnow, and are at that
time in the higheft perfe6tion. The In-
dians eat thefe berries, efleeming them
very balfamic, and invigorating to the
ftomach. Thepeople inhabiting the interior
colonies fteep both the fprigs and berries in
beer, and ule it as a diet drink for cleanfing
the blood from fcorbutic diforders.
The FEVER BUSH grows about five
or fix feet high ; its leaf is like that of a
lilach, and it bears a reddifh berry of a
fpicy flavour. The ftalks of it are excef-
fively brittle. A deco6lion of the buds
or wood is an excellent febrifuge, and
from this valuable property it receives its
name. It is an ancient Indian remedy
for all inflammatory complaints, and like-
wife much efteemed on the fame account
by the inhabitants of the interior parts of
the colonies.
The CRANBERRY BUSH. Though
the fruit of this bufli greatly refembles
in fize and appearance that of the com-
mon fort, which grows on a fmall vine in
morafles and bogs, yet the bufli runs to
the height of ten or twelve feet ; but it is
very rarely to be met with. As the
meadow
[ 5'2 ]
meadow cranberry, being of a local growth,
and flonrifhing only in moraffes, cannot
be tranfplanted or cultivated, tbe former,
if removed at a proper feaion, would be
a valuable acqiiifition to the garden, and
with proper nurture prove equally as good,
if not better.
The CHOAK BERRY. The (lirub
thus termed by the natives grows about
five or fix feet high, and bears a berry
about the fize of a floe, of a jet black,
which contains leveral fmall feeds within
the pulp. The juice of this fruit, though
not of a difagreeable flavour, is extremely
tart, and leaves a roughnefs in the mouth
and throat when eaten, that has gained it
the name of choak berry.
ROOTS and PLANTS.
Elecampane, Spikenard, Angelica, Sar-
faparilla, Ginfang, Ground Nuts, Wild
Potatoes, Liquorice, Snake Root, Gold
Thread, Solomon's Seal, DeviTs Bit,
Blood Root, Onions, Garlick, Wild Parf-
nips. Mandrakes, Hellebore Wiiite and
Black.
SPIKE-
f 5^3 I
SPIKENARD, vulgarly called in the
colonies Petty-Morrell. This plant ap-
pears to be exa£lly the lame as the Aiiatick
ipikenard, fo much valued by the an-
cients. It grows near the fides of brooks
in rocky places, and its ftem, which is
about the fizc of a goofe quill, fprings up
like that of angelica, reaching about a foot
and an half from the ground. It bears
bunches of berries in all refpedls like thofe
of the elder, only rather larger. Thefe
are of fuch a balfamic nature, that when
infufed in fpirits, they make a mofl: palat-
able and reviving cordial.
SARSAPARILLA. The root of this
plant, which is the moft eftimable part of
it, is about the fize of a g©ofe quill, and
runs in different dire6lions, twined and
crooked to a great length in the ground ;
from the principal flem of it fprings many
fmaller fibres, all of which are tough and
flexible. From the root immediately
Ihoots a ftalk about a foot and an half long,
which at the top branches into three
items ; each of thefe has three leaves,
mwch of the fhape and fize of a walnut
leaf; and from the fork of each of the
three ftems grows a bunch of bluifh white
K k flowers,
[ 5U ]
flowers, refemblirig thofe of the fpikenarcl.
The bark of the roots, which alone (hould
be u(ed hi medlcnie, is of a bitterifli fla-
vour, but aromatic. It is defervedly efteem-
ed for its medicinal virtues, being a gentle
fudorific, and very powerful in attenuat-
ing the blood when impeded by grofs hu-
mours.
GINSANG is a root that was once
fuppofed to grow only in Korea, from
whence it was iilnally exported to Japan,
and by that means found its way to Eu-
rope; but it has been lately difcovered to
be alfo a native of North America, where
it grows to as great perfection and is
equally valuable. Its root is like a fmalL
carrot, but not fo taper at the end ; it
is lometlmes divided into two or m.ore
branches, in all other refpects it refem-
bles farfaparilla in its growth. The tafte
of the root is bitteriih. In the eaftern
pnrts^ of Alia it bears a great price, being
there confidered as a panacea, and is the
raft'refuge*of the inhabitants in all difor-
ders. When chewed it certainly is a great
ftrengtheuer of the ftomach.
- GOLD THREAD. This is a plant
of the fmall vm^ kind, which -grows- in
' ^- - - fwampy
[ 5IS ]
fwampy places, and lies on the ground.
The roots Ipread themfelves juft under the
furface of the morafs, and are eafily drawn
up by handful s. They refemble a large
entangled fkain of thread of a fine bright
gold colour ; and I am perfuaded would
yield a beautiful and permanent yellow
dye. It is alfo greatly efteemed both by
the Indians and colonics as a remedy for
any forenefs in the mouth, but the tafle
of it is exquifitely bitter.
SOLOMON'S SEAL is a plant that
grows on the fides of rivers, and in rich
meadow land. It rifes in the whole to
about three feet high, the ftalks being two
feet, when the leaves begin to ipread
themfelves and reach a foot further. A
part in every root has an imprefiion upon
it about the fize of a fixpence, which ap-
pears as if it was made by a feal, and
from thefe it receives its name. It is great-
ly valued on account of its being a fine
purifier of the blood.
devil's BIT is another wild plant,
which grows in the fields, and receives
its name from a print that feems to be
made by teeth in the roots. The Indiana
fay that this was once an univerfal remedy
K k 2 for
[ 5i6 ]
for every diforder that human nature is hi-
cldent to ; but fome of the evil fplrits en-
vying mankind the pofleffion of fo effica-
cious a medicine gave the root a bite, which
deprived It of a great part of its virtue.
BLOOD ROOT. A fort of plantain
that fprlngs out of the ground in fix or
feven long rough leaves, the veins of which
are red ; the root of it is like a fmall car-
rot both in colour and appearance; when
broken, the iniide of it is of a deeper co-
-lour than the outlide, and dlflils feveral
drops of juice that look like blood. This
is a flrong emetic, but a very dangerous
one.
HERBS.
Balm, Nettles, Cinque Foil, Eyebrlght,
Sanlcle, Plantain, Rattle Snake Plantain,
Poor Robin's Plantain, Toad Plantain,
Maiden Hair, Wild Dock, Rock Liver-
wort, Noble Liverwort, Bloodwort, Wild
Beans, Ground Ivy, W^ater Crefles, Yar-
row, May Weed, Gargit, Skunk Cab-
bage or Poke, Wake Robin, Betony, Sca-
bious, Mullen, Wild Peafc^, Moufe Ear,
Wild Indigo, Tobacco, and Cat Mint.
SANICLE
[ S^l ]
SANICLE has a root which is thick
towards the upper part, and full of fmall
fibres below ; the leaves of it are broad,
roundifh, hard, fmooth, and of a fine
fhining green ; a ftalk rifes from thefe
to the height of a foot, which is quite
fmooth and free from knots, and on the
top of it are feveral fmall flowers of a red-
difh white, Ihaped like a wild rofe. A
tea made of the root is vulnerary and bal-
famlc.
RATTLE SNAKE PLANTAIN.
This ufeful herb is of the plantain kind,
and its leaves, which fpread themfelves
on the ground, are about one inch and
an half wide, and five inches long ; from
the centre of thefe a rifes a fmall ftalk
nearly fix inches long, which bears a little
white flower; the root is about the fize of
a goofe quill, and much bent and divided
into feveral branches. The leaves of this
herb are more efficacious than any other
part of it for the bite of the reptile from
which it receives its name ; and being
chewed and applied immediately to the
wound, and fome of the juice fwallowed,
feldoms fails of averting every dangerous
fymptom. So convinced are the Indians
K. k 3 Qf
[ 5^8 ]
of the power of this infalUhle antidote,
that for a trifling bribe of fpirituous li-
quor, they will at any time permit a rattle
fnake to drive his fangs into their fiefli. It
is to be remarked that during thofe months
in which the bite of thefe creatures is moft
venomous, that this remedy for it is in its
greatefl: perfedion, and mofl luxuriant in .
its growth.
POOR ROBIN'S PLANTAIN is of
the fame ipecies as the laft, but more di-
minutive in every reipe^l ; it receives its
name from its fize, and the poor land on
vv^hich it grows. It is a good medicinal
herb, and often adminiftered with fuccefs
in fevers and internal weaknefles.
TOAD PLANTAIN refembles the
common plantain, only it grows much
ranker, and is thus denominated becaufe
toads love to harbour under it.
ROCK LIVERWORT is a fort of li-
verwort that grows on rocks, and is of the
nature of kelp or mofs. It is efleemed as
an excellent remedy againft declines.
GARGIT or SKOKE is a large kind
of weed, the leaves of which are about
fix inches long, and two inches and an half
broad ; they refemble thofe of fpinage in
their
[ 5^9 ]
their colour and texture, but not in fhape.
The root is very large^ from which fpring
different ftalks that run eight or ten feet
high, and are full of red berries ; thefc
hang in clufters in the month of Septem-
ber, and are generally called pigeon ber-
ries, as thofe , birds then feed en them.
When the leaves firfl fpring from the
ground, after being boiled, they are a
nutritious and wholefome vegetable, but
when they are grown nearly to their full
fize, they acquire a poifonous quality. The
roots applied to the hands or feet of a per-
fon affliiled with a fever, prove a very
powerful abforbent.
SKUNK CABBAGE or POKE is an
herb that grows in moiil: and fwampy
places. The leaves of it are about a foot
long, and fix incites broad, nearly oval, but
rather pointed. The roots are compofed
of great numbers of fibres, a lotion of
which is made ufe of by the people in
the colonies for the cure of the itch. There
iiTues a flirong muiky fmell from this
herb, fomething like the animal of tha
fame name before defcribed, and on that
account it is fo termed.
n -■ '
- K k A WAKE
[ 520 ]
WAKE ROBIN is an herb that grows
in fwampy lands ; its root refembles a
fmall turnip, and if tafted will greatly in^^
flame the tongue, and immediately convert
it from its natural fhape into a round
hard lubftaiice ; in which ftate it will con^
tinue for fome time, and during this no
other part of the mouth will be affected.
But when dried, it lofes its aftringent
quality, and becomes beneficial to man-
kind, for if grated into cold water, and
taken i. eternally, it is very good for all
complair.ts of the bowels.
WILD INDIGO is an herb of the
fame fpecies as that from whence indigo is
made in the fouthern colonies. It grows
in one ftalk to the height of five or fix
inches from the ground, when it divides
into many branches, from which iflue a
great number of Imall hard bluilh leaves
that fpread to a great breadth, and among
thefe it bears a yellow flower ; the juice
of it has a very difagreeable fcent.
CAT MINT has a woody root, di-
vided into feveral branches, and it fends
forth a ftalk about three feet high ; the
leaves are like thofe of the nettle or be-
fony, and they have a ftrong fmell of
jiiint.
t 5^' ]
mint, with a biting acrid tafte ; the flow-
ers grow on the tops of the branches, and
are of a faint purple or whitifh colour. It
is called cat mint, becaufe it is faid that
cats have an antipathy to it, and will not
let it grow. It has nearly the virtues of
common mint *.
FLOWERS.
Heart's Eafe, Lilies red and yellow.
Pond Lilies, Cowflips, May Flowers, Jef^
famine, Honey fuckles , Rock Honey-
fuckles, Rofes red and white, Wild Holly-
hock, Wild Pinks, Golden Rod.
I fhall not enter into a minute defcrip-
tion of the flowers above recited, but only
juft obferve, that they much refemble thole
of the fame name which grow in Europe,
and are as beautiful in colour, and as per-
fect in odour, as they can be fuppofed to
be in their wild uncultivated {bate.
* .For an account of Tobacco, fee a treatife I have
publjjljied on the cuhure of that plant.
FARI^
[ 522 ]
FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS
ROOTS, &c.
Maize or Indiati Corn, Wild Rice,
Beans, the Sqiialh, &c.
MAIZE or INDIAN CORN grows
from iix to ten feet high, on a ftalk full
of joints, which is ftiif and foHd, and
when green, abounding Vv^ith a fweet juice.
The leaves are like thofe of the reed, about
two feet in length, and three or four
inches broad. The flowers, which are
produced at fome diflance from the fruit
on the fame plant, grow like the ears of
oats, and are fometimes white, yellow, or
of a purple colour. The feeds are as large
as peas, and like them quite naked and
fmooth, but of a roundifli furface, rather
comprefled. One fpike generally confifts
of about lix hundred grains, which are
placed clofely together in rows to the num-
ber of eight or ten, and fometimes twelve.
This corn is very wholefome, eafy of di-
geftion, and yields as good nourifhment as
any other fort. After the Indians have
reduced
^
^y.S^2
CO Pi^\TVT M^^Z/U^'J^"/:
[ 5^3 ]
reduced It into meal by pounding it, they
make cakes of it and bake them before
the fire. I have already mentioned that
fome nations eat it in cakes before it is
ripe, in which ftate it is very agreeable to
the palate and extremely nutritive. ^
WILD RICE. This grain, which
■grows in the greateft plenty throughout
the interior parts of North America, is
the mofl valuable of all the fpontaneous
productions of that country. Exclufive
of its utility, as a fupply of food for thole
of the human fpecies who inhabit this
part of the continent, and obtained with-
out any other trouble than that of gather-
ing it in, the Ivveetnefs and nutritious
quality of it attracts an infinite number of
wild fowl of every kind, which flock
from diftant climes to enjoy this rare re-
pafl ; and by it become inexprefiibly fat
and delicious. In future periods it will
be of great fervice to the infant colonies,
as it will afford them a prefent fupport,
until in the courfe of cultivation other fup-
plies may be produced ; whereas in thofe
realms which are not furniflied with this
bounteous gift of nature, even if the cli-
jiiate is temperate and the foil good, the
firfl
t 5^-4 ]
firfl fettlers are often expofed to great hard-
Ihips from the want of an immediate re-
fource for neceflary food. This ufeful
grain grows in the water where it is about
two feet deep, and where it finds a rich
muddy foil. The flalks of it, and the
branches or ears that bear the feed, re-
femble oats both in their appearance and
manner of growing. The ftalks are full
of joints, and rife more than eight feet
above the water. The natives gather the
grain in the following manner : nearly
about the time that it begins to turn from
its milky ftate and to ripen, they run
their canoes into the midft of it, and
tying bunches of it together juft below
the ears with bark, leave it in this fitua-
tion three or four weeks longer, till it is
perfectly ripe. About the latter end of
September they return to the river, when
each family having its feparate allotment,
and being able to diftinguilh their own
property by the manner of faftening the
fheaves, gather in the portion that belongs
to them. This they do by placing their
canoes clofe to the bunches of rice, in
fuch pofition as to receive the grain when
it falls, and then beat it out, with pieces
of
[ J25 ]
of wood formed for that purpofe. Having
done this, they dry it with fmoke, and
afterwards tread or rub off the outfide
hufk ; when it is fit for ufe they put it
into the ikins of fawns or young buffalos
taken off nearly whole for this purpofe
and fewed into a fort of fack, wherein they
preferve it till the return of their harveft.
It has been the fubjed: of much {pecula-
tion why this ipontaneous grain is not
found in any other regions of America, or
in thofe countries fituated in the fame pa-
rallels of latitude, where the waters are as
apparently adapted for its growth as in
the climates I treat of. As for inftance,
none of the countries that lie to the fouth
and eaft of the great lakes, even from the
provinces north of the Carolinas to the
extremities of Labradore, produce any of
this grain. It is true I found great quan-
tities of it in the watered lands near De^
troit, between Lake Huron and Lake
Erie, but on enquiry I learned that it ne^
ver arrived nearer to maturity than juft to
bloflbm ; after which it appeared blighted,
and died away. This convinces me that
the north-well wind, as 1 have before hint-
ed, is much more powerful in thefe than
in
[ 5^6 3
III the Interior parts ; and that it is more
Inimical to the fruits of the earth, after
It has paffed over the lakes and become
united with the wind which joins it from
the frozen regions of the north, than it is
farther to the weftward.
BEANS. Thefe are nearly of the fame
fhape as the European beans, but are not
much larger than the fmallefl: lize of them.
They are boiled by the Indians and eaten
chiefly with bear's flefh.
The SQUASH. They have alfo feveral
fpecies of the MELON or PUMPKIN,
which by fome are called Squafhes, and
which ferve many nations partly as a fub-
ftitute for bread. Of thefe there is the
round, the crane-neck, the fmall flat, and
the large oblong fquaHi. The fmaller
forts being boiled, are eaten during the
fummer as vegetables ; and are all of a
pleafing flavour. The crane-neck, which
greatly excel Is all the others, are ufually
hung up for a winter's ftore, and in this
manner might be preferved for feveral
months.
A P P E N-
A P P E N D I X.
TH E countries that He between the
great lakes and River Miffiflippi,
and from thence foiithward to Weft Flo-
rida, although in the midfl of a large
continent, and at a great diftance from the
fea, are fo lituated, that a communication
between them and other realms might
conveniently be opened ; by which means
thofe empires or colonies that may hereafter
be founded or planted therein, will be ren-
dered commercial ones. The great River
Milfiifippi, which runs through the whole
of them, will enable their inhabitants to
eftablifh an intercourfewith foreign climes,
equally as well as the Euphrates, the Nile,
the Danube, or theWolgado thofe people
which dwell on their banks, and who
have no other convenience for exporting
the produce of their own country, or for
importing thofe of others, than boats and
vefiels of light burden :^hotwith{landing
"- ^l which
C 528 ]
which they have become powerful and
opulent ftates.
The Miffiffippi, as I have before ob-
ferved, runs from north to fouth, and
paffes through the moft fertile and tem-
perate part of North America, excluding
only the extremities of it, which verge both
on the torrid and frigid zones. Thus fa-
vourably fituated, when once its banks
are covered with inhabitants, they need
not long be at a lofs for means to efla-
blifh an extenfive and profitable com-
merce. They will find the country to-
w^ards the fouth almoft fpontaneoufly pro-
ducing filk, cotton, indico, and tobacco ;
and the more northern parts, wine, oil,
beef, tallow, Ikins, buffalo -wool, and
furs ; with lead, copper, iron, coals, lum-
ber, corn, rice, and fruits, befides earth
and barks for dying.
Thefe articles, with which it abounds
even to profulion, may be tranfported
to the ocean through this river with-
out greater difficulty than that which at-
tends the conveyance of merchandize down
fome of thofe I have juft mentio ed. It is
true that the Miffiffippi being the boun-
dary between the Engliffi and Spaniffi fet-
tlements,
[ 529 ]
tlements, and the Spaniards in poffeflion
of the mouth of it, they may obflrudl the
paflage of it, and greatly difhearten thofe
who make the firH: attempts ; yet when
the advantages that will certainly arile to
fettlers are known, multitudes of adven-
turers, allured by the profpe<fl of fuch
abundant riches, will flock to it, and efta-
blifh themfelves, though at the expence of
rivers of blood.
But fliould the nation that happens to
be in poffeffion of New Orleans prove
unfriendly to the internal fettlers, they
may find a way into the Gulph of Mexico
hy the River Iberville, -^vhich empties
itfelf from the Miffiffippi, after paffing
through Lake Maurepas, into Lake Pon-
chartrain ; which has a communication
with the fea within the borders of Weft
Florida. The River Iberville branches off
from the Miffiffippi about eighty miles
above New Orleans, and though it is at
prefent choaked up in fome pafts, it might
at an inconliderable expence be made na-
vigable fo as to anfwer all the purpofes
propofed.
Although the Engliih have acquired
fince the lall peace a more extenfive know-
h 1 ledge
[ 53^ ]
ledge of the interior parts than were ever
obtained before, even by the French, yet
many of their productions ftill remain
•unknown. And though I was not defir
V cient either in affiduity or attention during
the fhort time I remained in them, yet
I muil: acknowledge that the inteUigence
I gained was not fo perfect as I could
wifli, arid that it requires further refearches
to make the world thoroughly acquainted
with the real value of thefe long hidden
realms.
The parts of the Mifliffippl of which
no furvey have hitherto been taken, amount
to upwards of eight hundred miles, foK
lowing the courfe of the ftream, that is,
from the Illinois to the Ouifconiin Rivers.
Thofe which lie to the north of the lat-
ter are included in the map of my travels.
Plans of fuch as reach from the former
to the Gulph of Mexico, have been de-
lineated by feveral hands ; one of the
beft of thefe, according to its fize, now
extant, in which is included the whole
continent of North America, is annexed
to this work. And I have the pleafure to
find that an actual furvey of the interme-
(Jiate parts of the Miffiflippiy between the
Illinois
[ 53^ ]
Illinois River and the fea, with the Ohio,
Cherokee, and Ouahache Rivers, taken
on the fpot by a very ingenious Gentle-
man *, is now publiflied. i flatter my-
felf that the obfervations therein contain-
ed, which have been made by one whofe
knowledge of the parts therein defcribed
was acquired by a perfonal inveftigation,
aided by a lolid judgmei^t, vvill confinn
the remarks I have made, and promote the
plan I am here recommending.
In the map of North America adjoin-
ed, I have partitioned the country which
lies adjacent to the eaftern borders of
the Miffiflippi into plantations or fiibor-
dinate colonies ; chuling fuch lands only
for this purpofe as by being contiguous to
fome river, might enjoy all the advan-
tages I have before pointed out. Thele
I have divided by dotted lines, and num-
bered ; that future adventurers m.ay rea-
dily, by referring to the map, chufe a
commodious and advantageous fituation. I
fliall alfo here give a concife defcription of
* Thomas Hutchins, Efq; Captain in his Majefty's
6oth, or Royal American Regiment of Foot.
L 1 2 each,
[ S3^ ]
each, beginning, according to the rule of
geographers, with that which lies moft to
the north.
It is however neceflary to obferve, that
before thefe fcttlements can be eftabHfh-
ed, grants mufl be procured in the man-
ner cuftomary on fuch occalions, and the
lands be purchafed of thofe who have ac-
quired a right to them by a long pof-
feffion : but no greater difficulty will at-.
tend the completion of this point, than
the original founders of every colony on
the continent met with to obftru^t their
intentions ; and the number of Indians
who inhabit thefe trads being greatly in-
adequate to their extent, it is not to be
doubted, but they will readily give up
for a reafonable confide ration, territories
that are of little ufe to them ; or remove
for the accommodation of their new neigh-
bours to lands at a greater diflance from
the MifTiffippi, the navigation of which is
not effential to the welfare of their com-
munities.
N° I. The country within thefe lines,
from its fituation, is colder than any of
the others ; yet I am convinced that the
air
[ 533 ]
air Is much more temperate than in
thofe provinces that lie in the fame de-
gree of latitude to the eaft of it. The
foil is excellent, and there is a great
deal of land that is free from woods in
the parts adjoining to the Miffiffippi ;
whilft on the contrary the north-eaftern
borders of it are well wooded. Towards
the heads of the River Saint Croix, rice
grows in great plenty, and there is abun-
dance of copper. Though the Falls of
Saint, Anthony are iituated at the fouth-
caft corner of this dlviiion, yet that im-
pediment will not totally obftrud the
navigation, as the River Saint Croix,
which runs through a great part of the
fouthern lide of it, enters the Miffiffippi
jufl below the Falls, and flows with fb
gentle a current that it affords a conve-
nient navigation for boats. This trad:
is about one hundred miles from north-
weft to fouth-eaft, and one hundred and
twenty miles from north-eaft to fouth-
weft.
N° II. This tra(3:, as I have already
defcribed it in my Journals, exceeds the
higheft encomiums I can give it ; not«
withftanding which it is entirely un.
L 1 3 inhabited
[ 534 ]
lirhabited, and the profufion of bleffings
that nature has fliowered on this heavenly
fpot return unenjoyed to the lap from
whence they fprung. Lake Pepin, as I
have termed it after the French, lies
within th^fe bounds ; but the lake to
which that name properly belongs is a
little above in the River St. Croix ; how-
ever, as all the traders call the lower
lake by that name, I have fo denomi-
Dated it, contrary to the information I
received from the Indians. This colony
lying in unequal angles, the dimenlions
of it cannot be exadly given, but it ap-
pears to be on an average about one hun-
dred and ten miles long, and eighty
broad.
N° III. The greateft part of this divi-
fion is fituated on the River Ouifconfin,
which is navig-able for boats about one
hundred and eighty miles, till it reaches
the Carrying-place that divides it from
the Fox River. The land which is con-"
tained within its limits, is in lome parts
mountainous, ,and iji others conliils of
fertile meadows and fine paflurage. It,
is furniflied alio with a great deal of good
timber, and, as is generally the cafe on the
banks
[ 535 ]
banks of the Miffiffippl and Its brajicheSj
has much fine, open, clear land, proper
for cultivation. To thefe are added an
inexhauflible fund of riches, in a number
of lead mines which lie at a little diftance
from the Ouifconlin towards the fouth,
and appear to be uncommonly full of
ore. Although the Saukies and Ottagau-
mies inhabit a part of this tract, the whole
of the lands under their cultivation does
not exceed three hundred acres. It is in
length from eaft to weft about one hun-
dred and fifty miles, and about eighty
from north to fouth.
N° IV* The colony here marked out
confifts of lands of various denomina-
tions, fome of which are very good, and
others very bad. The heft is fituatedon
the borders of the Green Bay and the
Fox River, where there are innumerable
acres covered with fine grafs, moffc part
of which grows to an aftonilhing height.
This river will afford a good navigation
for boats throughout the whole of its
courfe, which is about -one hundred and
eighty miles, except between the Winne-
bago Lake, and the Green Bay ; where
there are feveral Carrying-places in the
L 1 4 fpace
[ S3(> ]
fpace of thirty miles. The Fox River is
rendered remarkable by the abundance of
rice that grows on its fhores, and the al-
moft infinite numbers of wild fowl that
frequent its banks. The land which lies
near it appears to be very fertile, and pro-
mifes to produce a fufficient fupply of all
the neceflaries of life for any number of
inhabitants. A communication might be
opened by thofe who fhall fettle here, either
through the Green Bay, Lake Michigan,
Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Onta-
rio with Canada, or by way of the Ouif-
confin into the Miffifiippi. This divifion is
about one hundred and iixty miles long
from north to fouth, and one hundred
and forty broad.
]s^o Y^ This is an excellent tra6t of
land, and, conlidering its interior fitua-
tion, has greater advantages than could be
expecled ; for having the Miliiffippi on its
weftern borders, and the Illinois on its
fouth-eafl, it has as free a navigation as
mofl: of the others. The northern parts
of it ae lomewhat mountainous, but it
contains a great deal of clear land, the
foil of which is excellent, with many fine
fertile meadows, and not a few rich mines.
It
[ 537 1
It is upwards of two hundred miles from
north to fouth, and one hundred aflid
fifty from eafl to wefl.
N° VI. This colony being fituated
upon the heads of the Rivers Illinois and
Ouabache, the former of which empties
itfelf immediately into the Miffiffippi,
and the latter into the fame river by
means of the Ohio, will readily find a
communication with the fea through
thefe. Having alfo the River Miamis
paffing though it, which runs into Lake
Erie, an intercourfe might be eftablifhed
with Canada alfo by way of the lakes, as
before pointed out. It contains a great
deal of rich fertile land, and though more
inland than any of the others, will be as
valuable an acquiiition asthebeft of them.
From north to fouth it is about one hun-
dred and fixty miles, from eafl to wed
one hundred and eighty/
N° VII. This diviiion is not inferior
to any of the foregoing. Its northern
borders lying adjacent to the Illinois river,
and its weilern to the Miffiffippi, the
iituation of it for eilablifhing a commer-
cial intercourfe with foreign nations is
very commodious. It abounds with all
2 the
[ S3^ ]
the necelTarles of life, and is about one
hundred and fifty miles from north to
fouth, and fixty miles from eafi: to weft;
but the confines of it being more irregular
than the others, I cannot exactly afcertaiii
the dimenlions of it.
N° VIII. This colony having the River
Ouabache running through the centre of
it, and the Ohio for its fouthern boun-
dary, will enjoy the advantages of a free
navigation. It extends about one hundred
and forty miles from north to fouth, and
one hundred and thirty from eafttoweft.
N° IX. X. and XI. being fimilar in
lituation, and furnifhed with nearly the
fame conveniencies as all the others, I
Hiall only give their dimenfions. N° IX.
is about eighty miles each way, but not
exactly fquare. N° X. is nearly in the
flime form, and about the fame extent,
N° XI. is much larger, being at leaft one
hundred and fifty miles from north to
fouth, and one hundred and forty from
eaft to weft, as nearly as from its irregu-
larity it is poftible to calculate.
After the defcription of this delightful
country I have already given, I need not
repeat that ail the Ipots I have thus
pointed
[ 539 . ]
pointed out as proper for colonization;
abound not only with the neceflaries of
life, being well ftored with rice, deer,
buffalos, bears, &c. but produce in equal
abundance fuch as may be termed luxu-
ries, or at leaft thofe articles of comnnerce
before recited, which the inhabitants of it
will have an opportunity of exchanging for
the needful produdions of other countries;
The difcovery of a north- weft paffage
to India has been the fubje<SL of innume-
rable difquifitions. Many efforts like-
wife have been made byway of Hudfon's
Bay to penetrate into the Pacific Ocean,
though without iliccefs. I fhall not
therefore trouble myfelf to enumerate the
advantages that would refult from this
much wifhed-for difcovery, its utility being
already too well known to the commer-
cial world to need any elucidation ; I fliall
only confine myfelf to the methods that
appear moft probable to enfure fuccefs to
future adventurers.
The many attempts that have hither-
to been made for this purpofe, but
which have all been rendered abortive^
feem to have turned the fpirit of mak-
ing uieful refearches into another chan-
5 nel.
[ 540 ]
nel, and this moft intereftlng one has almoft
been given up as impra6llcable ; but, in my
opinion, their failure rather proceeds from
their being begun at an improper place,
than from their impradlicability.
All navigators that have hitherto gone
in fearch of this paflage, have firfl en-
tered Hudfon's Bay ; the conlequence
of v^'hich has been, that having fpent the
feafon during which only thofe feas are
navigable, in exploring many of the nu-
merous inlets lying therein, and this with-
out difcovering any opening, terrified at
the approach of winter, they have haflened
back for fear of being frozen up, and con-
fequently of being obliged to continue till
the return of fummer in thofe bleak and
dreary realms. Even fuch as have per-
ceived the coafts to enfold themfelves,
and who have of courfe entertained hopes
of fucceeding, have been deterred from
prol'ecuting their voyage, left the winter
fhould fet in before they could reach a
more temperate climate.
Thefe apprehenfions have difcouraged
the boldefl adventurers from completing the
expeditions in which they have engaged,
and fruftrated every attempt. But as it has
been
[ 541 ]
been dlfcovered by fuch as have failed into
the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean,
that there are many inlets which verge
towards Hudfon's Bay, it is not to be
doubted but that a paffage might be made
out from that quarter, if it be fought for
at a proper feafon. And fhould thefe ex-
pedtations be difappointed, the explorers
would not be in the fame hazardous fitu-
ation with thofe who fet out from Hud-
fon's Bay, for they will always be fure
of a fafe retreat, through an open fea, to
warmer regions, even after repeated dif-
appointments. And this confidence will
enable them to proceed with greater refo-
lution, and probably be the means of
effecting what too much circumfpedtion
©r timidity has prevented.
Thefe reafons for altering the plan of en-
quiry after this convenient paflage, carry
with them fuch conviction, that in the
year 1774 Richard Whitvvorth, Efq. mem-
ber of parliament for Stafford, a gentleman
of an extenfive knowledge in geography, of
an a6live enterpriling dilpofition, andwhofe
benevolent mind is ever ready to promote
the happinefs of individuals, or the welfare
pf the public, from the reprefentations
made
[ 542 ]
made to him of the expediency of it by
myfelf and others, intended to travel acrofs
the continent of America, that he might
attempt to carry a fcheme of this kind
into execution.
He defigned to have purfued nearly the
fame route that 1 did ; and after having
built a fort at Lake Pepin, to have pro-
.ceeded up the River St. Pierre, and from
thence up a branch of the River Mefforie,
till having dilcovered the fource of the
Oregan or River of the W.ft, on the
other fide the fummit of the lands that di-
vide the waters which run into theGulph
of Mexico from thofe that fall into the
Pacific Ocean, he would have failed down
that river to the place where it is faid
to empty itfeif near the Straights of An^
nian.
Having there eftablifhed another fet-
tlement on fome fpot that appeared
beft calculated for the fupport of his
people, in the neighbourhood of fome
of the inlets which tend towards the
north-eafl:, he would from thence have
begun his refearches. This gentleman
was to have been attended in the expe-
dition by Colonel Rogers, myfelf, and
others J
r 543 ]
others, and to have taken out whh hiin
a fiifficient number of artificers and mari-
ners for building the forts and vefiels nc-
ceflary on tiie occaiion, and for navigating
the latter; in all not lefs than fifty or
fixty men. The grants and other re-
quliitcs for this purpofe were even nearly
completed, when the prefent troubles in
America began, which put a ftop to an
enterprize that promifed to be of irxon-
ceivable advantage to the Britifh domi-
nions.
FINIS.
DIR uCTIONS for Placing the Map.
and Plates.
Map of North America, to front the TicJe Page.
Plan of Iravels, — — P. 16
Plate
ls,o I. The Falls of St. Anthony, — — 70
II. IVlan and Woman of the Ottagaumies, ^28
III. Ditto of the Naudowelhes, — — 230
IV. Indian Weapons, — — — 296
N D E X.
A
AC O S T A de, a Spanifh Writer 1 8 4.
Adair's opinion of the peopling of
America — — 206
Adair's opinion refpefting the Mofaic rites of
the Indians — — 386
Adoration, Indian — — 67
Adultery, punifhment of — 27 S
Age revered — •— 243
Algonkins — — 138
Allanipegon river — — 137
America, peopled from different countries 182,
184, 210
Anthony St. falls of — — 66j 6^
Anthropophagi — 196, 303, 304
Apathy of the Indians — — 240
Arithmetic, ignorance of — ■ 254
Arts, little cultivated — 249
Afh tree — — — 491
prickly ■— — S92> 5oS
Afrahcootans, a band of Indians 80
Aflinipoils, a tribe of Indians 76, 80, 112
Aftronomy of the Indians — 253
Mm Ball,
N D E X.
B
Ball, an Indian game — — 311
Bafs or white wood — — 499
Beans — — — — 5^6
Bears, American — — — 442
greafe ufed by the Indians — 44^
method of hunting — 286
Beards of the Indians — — 225
Beavers, hiftory of — — 457
. method of hunting — 289, 290
Beech nut — — — 501
Bees — — — — 491
Birds of America — — 466
Bleeding of the jugular by the Carcajou 450
vide Carcajou
Blood, human, drank — 304, 319
- root — — — 516
Blue clay, ufed as a mark of peace — 102
Braddock, general, caufe of the defeat of 311
Bread, a fpecies of — — 26
unknown to the Nawdoweflies 262
Bones of the Nawdoweflies preferved 6^, 84
■ carried for interment 84, 86, 401
Bourbon lake — — — 107
. river, fourcc of ■ — 76, 115
Bowl, game of the Indians — 2>^^, ^66
Bugs of America — — 491, 493
Buffaloes, largeft in America, ^63 103, no
method of hunting of — 287
hiftory of — — 445
Burying place of the Nawdoweflies
Buftard river ^— ~ 176
Butter
INDEX.
Butter or oil nut — — S^^
Button wood — — 499
Cadot'sfort •- — 13 Ij H^
Calumet, vide pipe of peace ^ ., j
Canada, maps of, imperfeft intr. iii
Carcajou of America — — 45*^
opens the jugular vein of its prey 450
Carp -_ — — -- 478
Carrabou, hiftory of — — 449
Carthaginians, fuppofed to have vifi ted America
190
Carver Captain, efcape of, at the maflacre of
Fort William Henry — 321
Carver's intrepidity 52, 81, 96, 280, 320
devotion of — 68, 178
intention in his travels — 178
river — — 74
CalTa Tate — — 2g6
Cataraqui river — — 171
C^-head filh or pout — 171
Cat-fifli — — — — 478
Cat-mint — — — — 520
Cave, remarkable one — — 63, 84
Charlevoix Pierre de, French hiftorian 192, 199,
220
Chegomegan Point of Lake Superior 138
Cherry-tree — — — 504
Chichicoue beans, ufe of — 3^5y 39^^
Children, management of, in infancy 23^
tendernefs to — — 378
Chipeway Indians 60, 96, 104, 1 15, 268, S5Z
' . gratitude of 63, 357
j^- language of — 420
M m 2 Chipeway
INDEX.
Chlpeway Indians, univerfality of 414, 416
. river — — lOg
Choak-berry — — — 512
Chongoufcetou Indians — — 80
Chub — — — •— 478
Clays, varioufly coloured — 10 1
Cohnawaghans or Mohawks of Canada 173
Coldnefs of the water of Lake Superior 153
Colour of the Indians — — 223
Cookery, Indian — — 233
Copper ore in America — • — 139
Crab-tree — — — 503
Cranberry-bufh ■ — — 511
Crane, American — — 469
Croix St. Riviere — — 105, iq6
Crofs, no objeft of religious worlliip 387
Cruelty to captives — 339, 341
Cuzco, great road — - — 191
D
Daggers of the Nawdoweflies — 296
Dance, remarkable, near Lake Pepin 279
Dances of the Indians — — 266
Dead Indians how treated — 398
oration on — 399,400
Death, cruelty in inflidling 338, 340
Death-cries — — 334
Death-fong — — 334, 337
Deer, plentiful — — no, 114
——' manner of hunting them — 288
fome account of — • — 446
Defiance to war — — 307
Delzel, an enterprizing officer - — 1 62
Detroit
INDEX.
Detroit, flraights of, and river — 150
Devils-bit — — - — 515
Dii Penates — -— 278, 309
Difeafes of the Indians — — 389
DiHies of the Indians — 234
Divorce of the Indians — — 371
Pogs, flefh of, a feaft of the Indians, 278, 304
• of America — — 445
Drefs of the Indians — 219,226
Drink of the Indians — — 263
Dropfy, treatment of — - — 391
Ducks, American — r — 469
Eagles American — — • 466
abound near thefalls of St. Anthony 71
Ears of the Indians ornamented — 227
Elder llirub — — — 508
Elks, large in America — 103, 447
method of hunting them — 288
Enemies, implacable hatred of — 238
Eric Lake — — — 167
Etchelaugon Lake — — 176
Falls of St. Anthony — 66, 69
piilurefque view of yo
Farinaceous and leguminous roots 522
Fafts of the Indians — 285
Feafts, Indian — — 262
Feii-de-joie of the Ottawaws — 23
Fever-
INDEX.
Fever- bufh — — —
Fidelity of the Indians —
Fiilie<; of America — —
Fifli-hawk, American —
Flints iifed as chirurgical inftruments
Flowers, American — —
Food of the Indians — —
Fort William Henry, maflacre^ of
Fortitude of the Indians
Fox river
abounds with wild fowl
Foxes of America
Francis St. river of —
• — Indians —
Fruit trees
Funeral ceremonies
. fpeech —
Furs, beaver — —
Future ftate^, ideas refpedling
Games, Indian — — 36^
Gaming among the Indians 244, 36$
Garcia Gregoria, a Spanilh hiftorian 183
Gargit or fkoke — — — • 518
Geography of the Indians — 84, 252
Gingfang 5^4
Gladwyn, major — — 155
faithfulnefsofthefervantofi 56
Goddard's river — — 105, 132
tranfparency of — 132
Gold, plenty of 1 1 8
Goldthread - — - — • SH
Goofe
INDEX.
Goofe river — — — -72
Grape, a fpecies of — — 1^6
Green fnake 486
Green -bay, near Lake Michigan — 21
Greenland, borders on America 209
Grolion, father, a relation from — 1 93
Government of the Indians — 255
Guella Francis 195
H
Hairs plucked out by the Indians 22^
Hatchet red, emblem of war — 362
Head drefs of the Indians — 230
Hemlock-tree • 499
Hennepin, father — ■ — 69, 219
Herbs, American — ^i5
Hereditary fucceflion — — 259
Hefperides, fuppofed to be the Antilles, 183
Hickory — — 502
Hieroglyphicks, Indian 64, 252, 237y 417
' anecdotes refpefting the 418
Hifpaniola, faid to have been vifited by the
Tyrian fleet — -r— • 192
HilTing fnake — 167, 486
Honcan, Baron de " • ■ — 220
Hornn George de, a Dutch writer ~ 189
Horned bug 493
Hofpitality of the Indians 25, 81, 83, 265
Houfes, Indian • 231
Hudfon's Bay, company of no, 112
Humming-bird — — 475
Hunting among the Indians — 283
Huron Lake •- = _- 144, i^o
Huron
INDEX.
Huroa Indians — — 151
Hurricane, efFefts of one — 103
Huts of the Indians 231
Ice, forming an intercourfe between America
and Europe 188
Indian, interview — — 61
banditti • • 52
' corn or maize — — 522
wild 520
Indolence of the Indians - 243, 244
Initiation into the friendly fociety of the
fpirit 271
Ink like rain — — — 153
Infefts of America — — 490
Intrenchment, remains of one - 56, 57
Intrigue of the Indians 37^> 377
Iroondocks, a tribe of the Iroquois Indians, or
five Mohawk nations 173
Iroquois Lakes — • — 173
Indians, or five Mohawk nations 173
Ifland of Mauropees — ■— 135
Ifle Royal in Lake Superior » 134
Jacobs, lieutenant •— — 164
Jay, blue — 47 ^
Jaune, Riviere ' • 51
Jealouly rarely known 245
Jews, fuppofedto have difcovered America, 207
John St., Lake of — — i77
Kamf.
N D E X.
K
Kamtfchatka borders on America 194, 214
Krlliftinoes, a tribe of Indians 76, 80, 112, 130
prieft, anecdote of 123 to 128
king of, defcribed — 131
King bird 475
La Bay, fort of — ^^
Lac la Pluye
' du Bois
Laconia, province of
Laet John de, a Flemifh writer
l^alces of America mifreprefented
Language of the Indians —
Lightning-bug — — 491
Liquid amber- tree — — 505
Fritters, Indian •— — 330
Lizards, American — — 488
Long black fnake — — 485
Loon, the American — -'— 47Q
M
Magic, initiation into •— -i^ 272.
Mahahs, trade of at Fort la Reine - 109
Maize, or Indian-corn — - — 522
Manataulin, ifland in lake Merow 144
Mandrakes, fuggeftions about — 118
Manikouagone lake, near the black river 176
N n Mani-
INDEX.
Manitoii, or Kitchi Manitou 381, 38S
Manitous — — 309
Manners of the Indians 225
Maple — — =- 496
Marble river — — 101
Marie St. falls of — — 142, 148
Marriage ceremonies — 367, 369, 373
■ dance — — 265
Martin, hiftory of 455
Maffacre at Fort William Henry 313, 327
Mawhaws, a band of Indians — 80
Mawtawbauntowahs — — 60
: , anecdote of a party of 60
Medicine of the Indians 305, 385, 391
Melon — ■ — • 526
Memory of the Indians, retentive - 242
Menomonies take Fort la Bay — 22
Menies, ceremony concerning the 236
Mefforie river — — 75, 118
Mexican refugees 119
. ideas of 117
Michigan lake, navigable to Grcenbay 26
defcription of 28, 140
Michillimackinac, fort of 18, 137, 149
— —— taken by flratagem
Michipicooton river — — 137
Midwives unknown among the Indians 235
Mink, American 465
MilTifauges, an Indian tribe ■■ 171
Miflifllppi river t— ^6^ 66, 72, 102
fource of 76
MiftafTm lake on Rupert's river 175
Mohawks river •— — — 172
Mo-
I N D E t.
Mohawks, nation of *- 173
Monro Colonel, death of — ■ 3145325
Montcalm General, cruelty of 320, 326
. ■ death of — 326
Months and moons of the Indians 251
Moofe-deer — — — 448
wood — — -— 508
Morand Captain, anecdote of — 40
Moraez Emanuel de, a Portuguefe writer 188
Mofchettoe country — — 106
Mountain in the river — — 56
• red, a place of trade and amity 99
• — ' -lliining 118, 121
Mourning, ceremonies of '— 403, 407
Mulberry-tree 503
Mufquafti, or mulk-rat 455
Myrtle wax-tree — — ^ 510
N
Natural hiftory of America — 441
Nawdoweflie Indians 59, 61, 80, 268, 271
anecdote of a party of 6r
' — friendly difpolition of 62
burying-place of 65
— language of — - 416
— vocabulary of 433
fong of — 440
Nehogatawonahs — — 60
Niagara, falls of • • 1 69
fort of — — I C^i 1 70
Night-hawk, hiftory of the — 466
Nipegon river — . 157
N n 2 ^ NilTif-
INDEX,
Nipfing lake 175
Nut-trees ^ — 500
6
Oaks, American 495
Oil-nut -— — = — 500
Oniada lake 172
Indians, a tribe of the Iroquois, or five
Mohawk nations — — 173
Onondagoes, a tribe of the Iroquois 173
Ontario lake — ^ — 170
country furrounding 172
Oregon river 66
Origin of the Americans 181 to 219
Ofwego river 171
. bafs-filli 171
Ottagaumics 48, 50, 352, 257
Ottaway lakes — — 106, ij^
Otter fkins, employed as manitous 309
hiftory of — 464
Ouis Confm river ■ 45
Ouinipique river 108
Oviedo, a celebrated Spanilh writer 183
Owl of America — > 469
^
Paint of the Indians — ibi, 227, 231
Papenouagane lake — — 176
Partridges, American — — 471
Parturition, eafy — — 235
how promoted 2^6
Paw-
INDEX.
Pawwaw, or black dance 2*jC>
Peace, manner of making 351, 358^ 360
■ Pecan-nut 501
Peopling of America, ivVi? America 181 10219
Pepin lake ■ • 54, 95
rich fcenery near it — 55
Perfons of the Indians 219, 22 j
Pertibi lake 176
Petticoats, Indian — 229
Phoenicians, faid to have vifited Am.erica 190,
Phyficians of the Indians 3S4, 391, 395
Pierre St. Riviere — — Gc^y 75
• foiirce of — 84
Pine-tree 496
Pipe or Calumate dance — iSZ
of peace — — 281,358
Pipes Indian, where procured — 10 1
Plants of America — — 512
Platter, a game of the Indians ^^^y ;^66
Pleurify, treatment of 390
Plumb-tree 526
Plymouth company, grant to — 174
Polygamy of the Indians — 369
fPontiac, a celebrated Indian warrior 19
furprizes Michillimackinac 20
further account of . 1^3
ftratagems and cataftrophe of 153 to
166
Poor Robin's plantain 518
Porcupine, hiftory. of 45^
Portage grand 106
Pots Indian, manufaflory of — 233
Prairies les Chiens 50, ^2
■ picturefque defcription a-
round • 100
Prairies
INDEX.
Prairies les Chiens, place of trade and general
amity 99
Prayer of an Ottowaw chief — 24
Prickly-afh, in the venereal difeafe 393, 508
Pried of the Kiiliftinoes — 123, 384
■ ' anecdote of 125
• of the Indians 3S'4
Prifonersj cruel treatment of 330, 331, 336
— grace to 343, 344
— never exchanged — 345
Property, equality of — 247, 248
Pumpkin — • 526
Qiieen of the Winnebagoes — • 33
R
Racoon, hiflory of • 454
Rainy lake — _ — 114
Rattle fnake, anecdote of one — 43
frequent ■ 167
— hiflory of — - 479
— bite of, antidotes to 48 2
— plantain — 482, 517
Red wood fmoked with tobacco 31
marble river 75
—- - mountain, rendezvous for trade and gene-
ral amity 99
Red bird 475
Reine la Fort, of «_— 109
Religion of the Indians ^ 380
Revenge
INDEX,
Revenge of the Indians - — 298, 413
Rice, wild — — ^23
Rink-fnake — — 487
Road of war — — r. joj
Rock Liverwort — — i;i8
Robertfon Dr. his opinion on the peopling of
America — — 217, 218
his mifreprefentation 224
Rogers, Major — — . i6j
Roots and plants — < — ^£2
Rum river
72
Jlupert's river — — 174
Sachem — — 257
Sacrifice dance — — 268, 282
Sagacity of the Indians 242, 284, 328
Sagapenum bajT — — 144
Saguenay river, near lake St. John 176
Salle Mr. de la — — 220
Salacioiifnefs of the Nawdoweflies 246
Salt, an antidote to the bite of the rattle- fnake
4^.3
Sand Cherries (cherries de fable) 30
Sanicle — — ■ — . ri7
Sarfaparilla — ^ij
SafTafras — — — 507
Saukies, account of — 47, 352, 257
— pofTefs lead — — 48
Sautor Grand, or great Chipeway Chief 97
' his tragic fate — 9^
Scalps kept as trophies — • — 328
Scalping, account of ---— - 328, 329
Scarifi-
I N D E ^ X.
scarification ufed by thq. Indians 394,
Scians, a band of Indians — 80
Schianefe — — — 80
Scythians, founders of America i80j 190, 196''
Sekockimac fmoked with tobacco 3 1
Senecas, a tribe of the Iroquois 173
Serpents of America — — 479
Shahfvveentowahs — — 60
Shells, ornaments of — — 227
Shin wood — — — 506
Shining mountains — 118, 121
Shirts of the Indians ■ 226, 229
Shoes of the Indians 228
Shrub-oak — — 509
Shrubs — — ■ — ' 505
Silk-worms — • — 490
Skunk of America • 430
cabbage or poke — 519
Slaves, Indian — — 346
Sledges, Indian — — 330
Slov/ lizard — 489
Small-pox, ravages of 326
Snake fkin, chirurgical ufe of — 392
Snakes, American — 485
Solomon's feal — — 51^
Speech addreffed to the Nawdoweffies 87
' of the NawdowefTie Indians 90
Speeches to excite to war 300, 302
Speckled fnake — — 487
Spikenard — — 381
3pirit, the great, dwelling of Sjy 1359 i4-i->
381
___ addrefs to 6^, 125, 302
., ceremony of invoking 123,
127
Spirits
INDEX.
Spirit, an amazing large one — 135
Spirits 381
Spirituous liquors, fondnefs for 347
Splinters, how extrafted — 392
Spoon-wood 508
Squafhes ■ 526
Squirrels, American 456
Stockings of the Indians — • 228
Stone, white as fnow ■ 100
-r red, ufed for making pipes loi
Strawberry-river ■ 105
Striped or garter fnake ■— 486
Sturgeon frequent 106, 140
■ hillory of 4-77
Subordination unknown to the North Ameri-
can Indians — — 257
Succatolh food 263
Sugarof the Maple — 262, 282
Sulphureous water, rained — 1^3
■ (tones 169
Sumach-leaves, fmoked with tobacco 30
Superior Lake 106
tranfparency of its water 132
— elegant and pi6i:urefque view
from
143
Superftition of the Indians 238, 254, 391
Tamifcaming Lake 17^
Targets of the Indians ■ 296
Teal 470
Temper of the Indians 238
I'horntail fnake — — 486
Oo ' Thou-
INDEX.
Thoufand lakes
7
:>
Thunder, alarming to the Indians 85
Time, calculation of 250
Tintons, a band of Indians — 80
Toad plantain ^18
Tobacco worm — — 49 1
-— plant, and life of the author 521 intr.
Tongo-Wakon 381
Toronto, Indian town ■ 1 y i
Tortoile, or land turtle • 488
Tree-toad ' 489
Trees, American — — 494
Trouts, plenty of 140, 149
Turnbull, Captain 1^2
Tulcarories, a tribe of the Iroquois 173
Two-headed fnake 487
Tyger, American _— 442
Tyrian fleet, fuppofcd to have vifited America
192
V
Venereal difeafe not indigenous to America 392
— cured by the prickly-afh 393
Vines, American 503
Vifits of the Indians 241
Vocabulary of the Chipeway tongue 420
■ ' of the Nawdoweflies 433
W
Waddapawjeftin Indians — 80
Waddawpawmenefotor river — • 6$
Wake robin • 520
Wakon
index;
Wakon-teebe cave 6*
bird
470
Kitchewah Ibciety 271
WaJvons 309, ^81
Wampum — — 362
War-dance — — . — 269
War, manner of making 293, 3C0, 306
310
■ club — — 296, 362
declaration of — 307
hoop -^ 319* 334
Warrior, the great 257
' Indian, military arms of 269
Water-bug — — 4^3
Water- fnakes — — 167, 486
Weeks of the Indians
252
Whetfaw of America 47^
Whipper-will . . 467
Whirtle-berries — 135
White-afli, antidote to the rattle-fnake poifon
482
Wickopick-tree — — 499
Wild indigo — — 520
Wild rice — — 523
Willow — — . 506
Winds of America varying in temperature 70
Winnepeek river 108,110
Winter-green ■ £^10
Witch-hazle — — 509
Witchcraft, how treated — 39^
Wives, ftation of — ^67
Wolves, American __ 44^
Women, courage of ^^^
Wood-creek river 172
'Wood-chuck — — 454
Wood>
INDEX.
Wood-pigeon — — 471
Wood-pecker — — 472
Worfhip cultivated by the Indians 1751
Wounds, treatment of 391
Yellow river — —
51
Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide
Treatment Date: Dec. 2004
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